Zambian Cultural Heritage - Chewa People - Their History and Culture

The Chewa people of Zambia live in the Easternon how to divide the head.
Province of the country. The language of the- The Linde clan from the word 'kulinda' which
Chewa is Chichewa and Chichewa speaking peoplemeans 'to watch'. This was the group who did not
are Malawi and Mozambique. The reason for this isjoin in the above fight but instead watched over
that historically before the white colonial mastersthe carcass of the animal that was being fought
came to Africa, the Chewa people of Zambia,over.
Malawi and Mozambique had one ruler - His RoyalLeadership and political organisation
Highness Kalonga Gawa Undi. But when theInterestingly the traditional Chewa social structure
colonialists came and created national boundaries,is matrilineal - property and land rights are
the Chewas were separated and foundinherited from the mothers and it is the woman's
themselves living in three countries with differentbloodline which keeps the lineage alive. The
colonial masters. Zambia and Malawi fell under thetraditional Chewa leader is usually male but the
British colonial rule while Mozambique belonged todescendance is carried through the female side
Portugal.deriving its identity from the woman and villages
However, the Chewa continued to recogniseare made up of matrilineal relatives by marriage.
themselves as one despite colonial rule and newThe overall Chewa leader is known as the Kalonga
country boundaries. The traditional ZambianGawa Undi who is in charge of all Chewa chiefs
Chewa headquarters are in Mkaika, Katete andwho in turn supervise village headmen. Kalonga
today ceremonies (in particular the KulambaGawa Undi has the following meaning:
Ceremony) take place every year that bring the- Kalonga: 'one who identifies and installs office in
leaders of all three countries together.others'
The Chewa people are known for their love of- Gawa: 'one who allocates land and shares wealth
farming and in particular for their craftsmanship -with others'
the women for their pottery skills and the men- Undi: 'one who protects citizens, keeping them
for their skills in making bamboo basketry, hoes,under his wings as a bird protects its young'
axes, arrows, reed mats and palm tree leaf mats.Those in line for leadership compete for their
The men are also good hunters and fishermenChieftainship right but contrary to popular belief
and these skills are believed to bring honour tothis does not necessarily mean conflict. Wise
manhood. The Chewa are hard working peoplechiefs will select a nephew as their successor and
who are known to despise any form of lazinesssend out their other nephews to establish
believing that it leads to the demeaning practice ofsubordinate chiefdoms. In fact, this system has
begging.avoided major dispute for centuries.
The sacred sites of the ChewaTaboos
- The royal cemetery at the Mano headquartersThe Chewa people will take offense if they are
in Malawimistaken for the Nyanja because this propagates
- The shrines at Msinja and Mankhambathe colonial misinterpretation of their origin. Though
- The grave of Undi Chisakamzondi who diesthe Nyanja and Chichewa languages are similar
whilst travelling in Mozambiquethey are different and to say they are one and
- Kaphirintiwa in Malawi where marks in the rocksthe same denies the validity of the Chichewa
resembling human and animal footprints which islanguage.
believed to be the place of creationAnother taboo is to mention, call or write the birth
- The ancestral graves at the Mkaika Traditionalname of the successor to the Kalonga Gawa Undi.
HeadquartersThe office of the Kalonga Gawa Undi must be
The Chewa clansseen to never die. Before the burial of the
The original two main clans were the Banda whoKalonga Gawa Undi his successor is chosen by the
historically were healers and mystics and the Phiriroyal family and the birth name of his successor
who were said to the aristocracy. Other clans are:is ceremonially buried together with his forerunner.
- The Mbewe's known to enjoy the delicacy ofThe name of the current Gawa is therefore
mice eating (although the Phiri's and Banda's willsimply Kalonga Gawa Undi XI.
also enjoy this delicacy)This article is inspired by the book 'Ceremony!
- The Kwenda clan which comes from the wordCelebrating Zambia's Cultural Heritage'. It's fabulous
'mkwenda' which means 'the stripper'. The tailand a visually pleasing book which I would
suggests a man from the Phiri clan inappropriatelyencourage you to get. I got mine from ZAIN in
stripped his sisters' clothes whilst travelling - theLusaka, Zambia. It is published by Celtel Zambia
rest is history!PLC and Seka. Original photography, Francois
- The Mphandwe clan who are an offshoot of thed'Elbee. Coordinating author, Tamara Guhrs. Editor,
Banda clan. The story goes that a man elopedMulunga Kapwepwe. Contributing authors,
with a woman of his clan (a disgraceful thing toAkashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika, Prof Mapopa
do) and as a result wanted to be known asMtonga, Mulenga Kapwepwe, Isaac Smogy
Mphandwe not BandaKapinga, Miranda Guhrs, Msatero Tembo, Matiya
- The Mwale clan from the word 'kumwalira' whichNgalande and Joseph Chikuta.
means 'to die'. History suggests there was aZambia encourages tourists to witness traditional
bloody fight between two groups of peopleceremonies and you'll find local tourism service
because they shot an animal and could not agreeproviders particular helpful.