FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

Amayi busa requested one instructress to bring the initiates in. The instructress then led
in the procession of six girls. She directed them to sit facing opposite us with their legs
outstretched. The weather was cold but none ofthe girls was wearing a jersey.
The mood was informal and we exchanged greetings. The door was closed halfway. The
instructress who brought in the girls came to me and said 'Amayi, atsikana aja ndiame­
newa' ('Mum or Madam, here are the girls'). I thanked her but reminded them that I
was just an observer and that they needed to do as they always do.
Then Amayi busa introduced each of the girls by name. Three were from a preaching
point called Nyemba, and four were from Mphindo church. She told the girls to greet
me. Remaining seated I exchanged greetings with them. The seventh girl came in a bit
later and she was instructed to greet me as well.
Then one instructress summoned the two girls from Nyemba to go out to meet with one
lady. When they went out, the instructress said to us: 'I have received word that the girl
in purple cloth has rude behaviour. She dresses indecently even before her father, such
that her mother feels embarrassed.' When she finished talking, she went out and sum­
moned the girls in. They re-entered after about three minutes.
After a little whispering among the instructresses, one instructress prayed. Then she told
the girls not to feel embarrassed to tell us what they saw. Then another instructress
asked each one of them, 'Who saw you?' All, except one who mentioned her sister,
mentioned their mothers. She continued to state that that is what they were in the room
for:
We want a Christian girl to show respect, because our instructions come from the Bible.
We the instructresses are just continuing what your mothers told you. And so this book
is what we read for the girls upon their reaching puberty. For before, you were young,
but now you are initiates.
She handed the booklet to the pastor's wife who read the whole section including the
instructions to the instructresses, in a flat, low, and stammering voice. Occasionally,
when she paused, another instructress would ask 'Mwamva?' ('Do you understand?')
Then at the end, the reader asked, 'Tonse tamvetsetsa?' ('Have we all understood?)
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