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Glossary of Chichewa Terms

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Glossary of Chichewa Terms 01 Chewa Prelims copy 2/7/12 10:09 Page xxvi Glossary of Chichewa terms Akafula/Batwa Original inhabitants of Malawi prior to the settle - Chiwongo Clan name (inherited through father) ment of Bantu-speaking peoples. A hunter-gatherer society Dambule Major commemoration for the dead (the ancestors), Akunjira The novice master, who welcomes the initiate and held annually by a village or villages (now rare) supervises the initiation Dambwe The secret place where gule characters are made and Ankhoswe (sing. nkhoswe ) Guardians of the marriage bond where dancers transform into animals and spirits (cf. Anthumba Captives (of war) chilombo and mzimu ). Normally located near a graveyard Atsabwalo The Nyau member responsible for the bwalo Dona A European lady (dancing arena) Dzala Rubbish pit. A liminal area where some of the instruction Bwalo Arena for the performance of gule wamkulu and other takes place during girls’ initiation and where some gule rituals; ‘centre’ of the village anoint themselves with ashes in order to associate Chamba The drug hemp; marijuana themselves with the dead Chatuluka Retired village chief Fisi Literally, ‘hyena’. A surrogate husband for the purpose of Chibiya Ngoni kilt ritual intercourse (to awaken sexually an initiated girl who Chihata Beaded belt or vest of the Ngoni does not have a husband) or for generating a child in a Chikafula Language of the Akafula, which sounds like ‘coughing’ childless marriage Chikamwini Uxorilocal marriage system where the husband Galu wanga chimbwala A mini-structure of a dog that fails to moves to live in his wife’s village follow its owner and is seen as unfaithful Chikhuthe Shelters where beer is brewed for rituals Gocho Term of derision for an impotent man Chilale Palm leaves, commonly woven to form outer skin of Gule wamkulu The ‘great dance’ of the Chewa, involving structures masked and costumed dancers and structures Chilamu Joking, light hearted relationship between brother- and Inyago Carved and costumed characters of the Yao. Moulded sister-in-law clay figures used for teaching facts of life during male Chiliza (pl. ziliza ) A tomb-stone or cement construction erected initiation on the grave of the deceased two years after burial. Also a Jando Initiation rite for Muslim boys including circumcision (Yao) bamboo fence which is erected around the grave the day Kachipapa Small winnowing basket. Once used to dig and refill following burial graves Chilombo (pl. zilombo ) Wild animal. A way of referring to gule Kafunde Series of riddles related to the female menstrual cycle characters Kalolo Small structure representing a young girl who is pregnant Chinamwali Girls’ initiation ritual; coming of age before marriage Chinamwali cha chimbwinda Initiation ceremony for girls Kalonga King of the Malawi/Phiri people who came to dominate already pregnant the Banda clan Chingoli Cry produced by the male initiate when he presses his Kamundi Consort of spirit wife Makewana , from Mbewe clan throat at the same time emitting a sound Katondo Red clay used to decorate some gule dancers Chipapa Winnowing basket. Also associated with witches as a Kazukuta A Chewa dance performed during the night vigil pre - vehicle ceding the enthronement of leaders, by which village Chipongozi Avoidance relationship between husband and headmen and elders are instructed into their new role as mother-in-law and wife and father-in-law leaders; it is also performed during beer parties to remind Chiputula Feather headgear (as worn by Kapoli). The word the comes from ‘ chiputu cha udzu ’, a clump of grass with roots community of the mwambo difficult to trace Kholowa A sweet potato leaf dish Chisamba A dance of the women, for pregnancy or chinamwali . Khunju A dance originating amongst captives of the Ngoni One of the oldest of the Chewa dances Kudika Literally, ‘to wait’. Ritual abstinence from sexual Chitengwa Taking a wife to live in the village of her husband (cf. relations chikamwini ). Such a wife is called ntengwa Kudula maliro To interrupt (cut) the transition of the deceased’s Chitenje (pl. zitenje ) Brightly coloured printed wrap worn by the spirit to the spirit world women Kudya makanda Literally, ‘to eat young girls’. To exploit minors Chitopole (pl. zitopole ) A type of scarification on the sexually forehead, often seen as a way of beautifying the body Kudyera Greed; desire to exploit any opportunity for personal and establishing tribal identity gain 01 Chewa Prelims copy 2/7/12 10:09 Page xxvii Glossary of Chichewa terms xxvii Kukhuza Mourning rites for funerals Mkulu wakumadzi The same as wakumadzi Kukhwima, kukhwimira Self-preservation; advancing one’s Mkulumulo Medicine to protect children from mdulo position using evil methods (witchcraft) Mkweteku Love potion/medicine Kukuna Manual enlargement of girls’ sexual organs (labia) for Mowa Beer brewed from maize and millet. A staple at many sexual enhancement rituals Kulodza Casting of lots or magical spells using medicines Mphini Cuts on the body or face in which protective medicine Kulongosola Ritual re-engagement with sexual relations to end has been inserted ritual coolness (redemption) Mpindira Initiation ceremony at the funeral of a senior member Kumangira mimba Ceremony to assist women to have a of the community successful childbirth Mpumulo A period of ritual sexual abstinence ( kudika ) for a Kupana Literally, ‘to trap’. Castigation, notably from the married couple; sexual rest ancestors Mtchona (pl. matchona ) One who has lost connections with his Kupisira anamwali Ritual intercourse by chief and his wife to home release fertility of the girl initiates Mtsibweni Another term for malume Kusempha Literally, ‘to miss’. Putting life at risk through failing Mwabvi The poison ordeal used in the past to identify witches. to follow sexual taboos A witch would die while an innocent would vomit the Kutchona Verb related to mtchona poison Kutsirika To protect items with powerful medicine Mwali Banda spirit wife of the Mankhamba rain shrine Kuyangala Special dancing step used as the gule character Mwambo (pl. miyambo ) Code of moral values and behaviours set terminates its dance to show reverence to the audience by the ancestors for the living, including rituals, Liunde Gathering point (‘backstage’) for gule dancers near the traditions and rules of politeness bwalo Mwambo wa maliro Funeral rites Lupanda Pre-Islamic initiation rite for Yao boys, now replaced Mwandionera pati Akafula by jando Mwini mbumba ‘Owner’ or ‘caretaker’ of the extended family; Magawagawa Disease involving ulceration of the limbs. It can the senior uncle or malume now refer to HIV/AIDS Mzimu (pl. mizimu ) Spirit or ancestor Makewana Literally, ‘mother of children’. Banda spirit wife of Mzinda (pl. mizinda ) The village unit of Nyau and gule the Msinja rain shrine wamkulu ; also meaning ‘town’ Malume Male head of the matrilineal extended family; the Mzuli Small cap worn by Muslims senior maternal uncle Mzungu (pl. azungu ) European/White person Manjerenjeza Ngoni bells worn on ankles Namkungwi (pl. anamkungwi ) Senior woman instructor Manyumba Councillors of the village chief; village elders Namkungwi wa ku chinamwali Female instructor for girls’ Masiye Funeral house; house of deceased initiation Matsano Young virginal maidens at Banda rain shrines Namkungwi wa ku mzinda Female instructor initiated into Nyau Mbalule The leading (or ‘talking’) drum at a gule wamkulu event society Mbumba The extended matrilineal family Namwali (pl. anamwali ) Initiate Mchape A non-lethal potion used to purify the taker from Nang’omba A ground hornbill. The mother of children witchcraft N’dakalira Funeral headband Mchili Medicine buried close to the sacred tree where village Ndatola Literally, ‘I have picked.’ A type of Kapoli who collects headmen will judge court cases and where gule wamkulu (steals) initiates from their homes and dances suggestively will be performed. This medicine is buried in order to with each one, presenting the stick that stands for his ensure the villagers’ protection sexual organ. He has a reputation for being promiscuous Mchome Facial decoration of women made with cashew nut acid Ndiwo Relish to add to nsima Mdulo The ‘cutting (or wasting) disease’, caused by breaking Ngayaye Reed heads used in costumes sexual taboos (when ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ meet) Ngoma Ngoni celebratory dance with men and women in a large Mdzukulu An undertaker circle. Men wear elaborate costumes and head dresses Mfiti (pl. afiti ) A witch; one who is antisocial, user of evil Ngwetsa Rain dance performed at Banda rain shrines medicines, eater of human flesh Njedza Opening dance of a major gule wamkulu performance, Mfiti mphera njiru An accomplished witch that kills for its own usually performed by Kalulu and leaders pleasure Nkhono A snail whose trail reminds us that evil follows its owner Mfumu (pl. mafumu ) Chief of the village or village headman Nkhoswe Guardian of the marriage bond/women in a family; the Mitala Polygamist marriage malume Mkamwini (pl. akamwini ) Husband or son-in-law in the Nsima Thick maize meal porridge. Staple of the Chewa diet matrilineal Chewa society residing at his wife’s village Nsupa Gourd used to hold medicines Mkangali Solemn girls’ initiation which can occur at initiation of Ntheko Initiation cap of girls (also called timbwidza ) a chief Nyakwawa (pl. anyakwawa ) Assistant to the village chief 01 Chewa Prelims copy 2/7/12 10:09 Page xxviii xxviii Glossary of Chichewa terms Nyau Secret societies of Chewa men, in which gule wamkulu is Tsiku losambula Day when ferment is added to the beer being the major pedagogical tool brewed for a ritual Nyoni (kanyoni ) Literally, ‘a small bird’. Ngoni headgear. Also a Tsimba Seclusion house for initiates secret word to talk about a structure made of feathers Tsumba Tuft of feathers on head or forehead Phata Root of a tree or the oldest member of a family Ufiti Witchcraft Phungu (pl. aphungu ) Tutor to initiates Wakumadzi (pl. akumadzi ) Head of the dambwe , who supervises Silambe (pl.
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