DOCSLIB.ORG

A Socio-Semantic Analysis of Selected Tumbuka Anthroponyms

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Socio-Semantic Analysis of Selected Tumbuka Anthroponyms A SOCIO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED TUMBUKA ANTHROPONYMS BY CHOLA MUSONDA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA IN PARTIAL FUFILLMENT OF THE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS IN LINGUISTIC SCIENCE THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA 2018 AUTHOR’S DECLARATION I, CHOLA Musonda, do hereby declare that “A Socio-semantic Analysis of Selected Tumbuka Anthroponyms”, a) Represents my own work; b) Has not previously been submitted or presented for any qualification at this university or any other institution; c) Does not contain any other published works of other people except those that have been acknowledged accordingly. Author‟s signature: ……………………………………………. Date: ………………………...…………………………………. Supervisor‟s signature: ………………………………………… Date: ……………………....…………………………………… ii COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ©CholaMusonda2018. All rights reserved. No part of this dissertation may be altered, reproduced, stored in any retrieval system and/or transmitted in any form by electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise before seeking permission from the author or the University of Zambia. iii APPROVAL This dissertation written by CHOLA MUSONDA is approved as fulfilling in part the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts in Linguistic Science at the University of Zambia. Examiner 1 Name: ……………..………………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ……………………………………….. Date: ...………………………………………... Examiner 2 Name: ………………..………………………………………………………………………………. Signature: ……………………………………….. Date: ...…………………………………………. Examiner 3 Name: ………………..…………………………………………………………………………......... Signature: ………………………………………. Date: ...………………………………………….. Chairperson Board of Examiners Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ………………………………………. Date: …………………………………………………. Supervisor Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Signature: ………………………………………. Date: …………………………………………………. iv ABSTRACT This study was an attempt to investigate the meanings and sociocultural implications of selected Tumbuka anthroponyms. It sought to identify and analyse meanings of selected Tumbuka personal names; establish the kind of naming system that the Tumbuka of Lundazi District have in place; and to find out the socio- cultural implications of the names and naming patterns and/or strategies that are used among the people in the study area. The study was purely qualitative. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, interaction with the study population and introspection, the researcher was able to gather primary data. On a large scale, purposive sampling was the employed technique, supplemented by simple random sampling to select participants. Secondary data was obtained from existing Tumbuka literature including school and village registers. Using the unified theory of names, the generated data was analysed and thereafter names grouped according to themes. Findings showed that, among the Tumbuka people, the first name is bestowed on a child after detachment of its umbilical cord. Traditionally, the grandfather and great grandfather to the new-born child are the sole name-givers. However, there are circumstances under which another person might be requested to name a child. The bestowal of first names arises from different factors including events or circumstances surrounding a child‟s birth such as: a child‟s place, period, order and manner of birth; death; fertility; religion; marital disputes and physical appearance of the newborn among others. In addition to this, names are sometimes given to children to honour dead relations. Unlike first names, most of the Tumbuka surnames began as nicknames. Later, such names became permanent surnames and/or clan names. In relation to the findings, it was deduced that personal names in Tumbuka-prone speech communities go beyond being mere personal labels. They are expressions and stories that mark the various social and psychological milestones and circumstances that surrounded the birth of the child to be named as well as the family and community into which the child is born. This in turn makes personal names an integral meaningful part of the Tumbuka cultural heritage. Key words: anthroponyms; sociocultural; bestowal; implications; naming system. v DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my family. Special gratitude to John C. Chanda and Annah Gondwe my parents for their unconditional support, and whose push for persistence will forever inspire me. My siblings Wezi, Ngoi, Kalunga and Sokalikwenda who have always been my favourite cheerleaders, I love you all so much. vi ACKNOWLDGEMENTS This project has been successful through the consultations I made with the members of staff in the Department of Literature and Languages at The University of Zambia. I would be failing in my endeavour if I do not sincerely thank Dr. John Simwinga, my supervisor, for the guidance and unwavering support I received on how best this research could be carried out because it made the compilation a success. His patience with me while I carried out the study was encouraging. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to my family, friends and workmates for all their love and support throughout my studies. My special gratitude goes to the people of Lundazi District, Zambia, more especially those that assisted me with the information I used to compile this paper. You are my Tumbuka heroes. vii Table of Contents AUTHOR‟S DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................... ii COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. iii APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. v DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. vi ACKNOWLDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Overview 1 1.1 The Study of Names .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Ethnolinguistic Background of the Tumbuka People ............................................................ 2 1.1.2 Names and Naming Patterns in African Societies ................................................................. 3 1.2 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Aim ........................................................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Research Objectives .............................................................................................................. 6 1.6 Research Questions............................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................. 6 1.7.1 A Unified Theory of Names ................................................................................................... 6 1.8 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................................... 9 1.9 Definition of Terms ................................................................................................................... 9 1.10 Structure of the Dissertation .................................................................................................. 10 1.11 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................................................ 11 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................... 11 Overview 11 2.1 Studies on Names as Part of Language Systems ................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Meaning of Names .............................................................................................................. 14 2.1.2 Studies on Names in Zambia ............................................................................................... 16 2.1.3 Studies of Names Based on Various Themes ...................................................................... 21 2.1.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER THREE: ..................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Tumbuka, Malawi, Bantu
    1. Description 1.1 Name(s) of society, language, and language family: Tumbuka, Malawi, Bantu 1.2 ISO code (3 letter code from ethnologue.com): N21 1.3 Location (latitude/longitude): (-11.20/33.10) 1.4 Brief history: past is hid in the mists of prehistoric times, no one in the tribe is able to go back more than three generations and describe even inaccurately the condition of the people. But they must have been a great tribe once, it is evident from their wide distribution and from the customs common to them. (113 Winning a Primitive People) Last century the Tumbuka tribe was distributed from latitude 14 degrees south to 11 degrees, and between longitudes 32 degrees and 34 degrees. Area of about 20000 square miles. In the South they are now called Chewa, many new settlers came and joined the group thus slightly changing the language. Tumbuka natives escaped successfully from Ngoni natives when they invaded. The first groups of people to interrupt into the area of the Tumbuka were the Mlowoka's. This was a group of people who came from the east coast of the Indian Ocean and were looking for Ivory trade which was abundant in the area. They crossed Lake Malawi on dhows resulting in their nickname 'BaLowoka', meaning those who crossed the lake whilst their leader was named Mlowoka, the one who crossed the lake. This was around the second half of the 18th century. The Mlowoka's established themselves peacefully among the Tumbuka and later their leader intermarried with the local inhabitants.
    [Show full text]
  • [Rcz] After Umwini [Church Autonomy]
    SOME MISSIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES FACING THE REFORMED CHURCH IN ZAMBIA [RCZ] AFTER UMWINI [CHURCH AUTONOMY] by REV JAPHET NDHLOVU Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY in the subject MISSIOLOGY at the University of South Africa SUPERVISOR: PROF WA SAAYMAN JUNE 1999 ii SOME MISSIOLOGICAL CHALLENGES FACING THE REFORMED CHURCH IN ZAMBIA AFTER 'UMWINI' (CHURCH AUTONOMY) TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 1.1 Context of Umwini in the RCZ 1.1 Background information about Zambia 1.2 Factors Leading to Church Autonomy 2 After Umwini 3 Developments in Theological Education 4 RCZ on the Ecumenical Scene 5 Natural Visual Disability 6 The wider Context in which the Missiological challenges are discussed 7 Educational Developments CHAPTER2 2. The challenge of lndigenisation ( Contextualisation ) 2.1 Theological Trends 2.2 RCZ Brand of Reformed Theology 2.3 Vernacularisation 2.4 African Theology in the RCZ After Umwini CHAPTER3 3. The Challenge of an all inclusive theology 3. 1 Mpingo wa Anthu Akum'mawa (A Church for Easterners) 3.2 Women and their Role in the RCZ 3.3 Youth and their Role in the RCZ 3.4 The problem of Clericalism in the f{CZ iii 3.5 What is the Nature and Purpose of the Church CHAPTER4. 4. The challenge of stewardship 4.1 Historical Background to this subject 4.2 Biblical Guidelines of Stewardship 4.3 The RCZ and Stewardship 4.4 Stewardship of Christian Marriage and Family 4.5 Sense of Belonging and Ownership CHAPTERS. Which way forward Reformed Church In Zambia ? APPENDICES BIBLIOGRAPHY iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Several people were instrumental in the work towards this dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Education and Healthcare in Northern Malawi: Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood
    Wright State University CORE Scholar College of Education and Human Services Student Publications College of Education and Human Services 2013 Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Education and Healthcare in Northern Malawi: Pregnancy through Toddlerhood Elisabeth Hangartner-Everts Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cehs_student Part of the Education Commons, and the Family, Life Course, and Society Commons Repository Citation Hangartner-Everts, E. (2013). Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Education and Healthcare in Northern Malawi: Pregnancy through Toddlerhood. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cehs_student/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Education and Human Services at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in College of Education and Human Services Student Publications by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Education and Healthcare in Northern Malawi: Pregnancy through Toddlerhood Elisabeth Hangartner-Everts under the supervision of Prof. Dr. William Mosier Department of Teacher Education Wright State University, Dayton OH - 1 - Table of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Possibilities and Limitations of Comparison of Different
    [Show full text]
  • Variable Name: Identity
    Data Codebook for Round 6 Afrobarometer Survey Prepared by: Thomas A. Isbell University of Cape Town January 2017 University of Cape Town (UCT) Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) Michigan State University (MSU) Centre for Social Science Research 14 W. Airport Residential Area Department of Political Science Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa P.O. Box 404, Legon-Accra, Ghana East Lansing, Michigan 48824 27 21 650 3827•fax: 27 21 650 4657 233 21 776 142•fax: 233 21 763 028 517 353 3377•fax: 517 432 1091 Mattes ([email protected]) Gyimah-Boadi ([email protected]) Bratton ([email protected]) Copyright Afrobarometer Table of Contents Page number Variable descriptives 3-72 Appendix 1: Sample characteristics 73 Appendix 2: List of country abbreviations and country-specific codes 74 Appendix 3: Technical Information Forms for each country survey 75-111 Copyright Afrobarometer 2 Question Number: COUNTRY Question: Country Variable Label: Country Values: 1-36 Value Labels: 1=Algeria, 2=Benin, 3=Botswana, 4=Burkina Faso, 5=Burundi, 6=Cameroon, 7=Cape Verde, 8=Cote d'Ivoire, 9=Egypt, 10=Gabon, 11=Ghana, 12=Guinea, 13=Kenya, 14=Lesotho, 15=Liberia, 16=Madagascar, 17=Malawi, 18=Mali, 19=Mauritius, 20=Morocco, 21=Mozambique, 22=Namibia, 23=Niger, 24=Nigeria, 25=São Tomé and Príncipe, 26=Senegal, 27=Sierra Leone, 28=South Africa, 29=Sudan, 30=Swaziland, 31=Tanzania, 32=Togo, 33=Tunisia, 34=Uganda, 35=Zambia, 36=Zimbabwe Note: Answered by interviewer Question Number: COUNTRY_R5List Question: Country Variable Label: Country in R5 Alphabetical
    [Show full text]
  • A Sociolinguistic Survey of the Nyiha and Nyika Language Communities in Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi
    A Sociolinguistic Survey of the Nyiha and Nyika Language Communities in Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi Anna-Lena Lindfors, Mark Woodward and Louise Nagler Revised by Susanne Krüger SIL International 2009 SIL Electronic Survey Report 2009-012, September 2009 Copyright © 2009 Anna-Lena Lindfors, Mark Woodward, Louise Nagler, Susanne Krüger, and SIL International All rights reserved ABSTRACT This paper presents the findings of a sociolinguistic survey among the Nyiha and Nyika language communities in south-western Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. The main purpose of the research was to clarify the extent of any dialect differences between the varieties that could impact the ongoing language development process in the Nyiha of Mbozi variety (Tanzania). The research was conducted in August, September and November 2004. The survey identified five different ethnic groups called Nyiha or Nyika in Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. Research findings suggest that the Nyiha of Malawi/Zambia could possibly use written materials in the Nyiha of Mbozi variety. The Nyika of Malawi and the Nyiha of Sumbawanga (Tanzania) were found to speak varieties different enough to warrant their own language development efforts. The language variety spoken by the Nyika of Rungwe (Tanzania) was found to be not a variety of Nyiha or Nyika at all and was not further investigated. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The organisation of this paper 1.2 Acknowledgements 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 2.1 Language classification 2.2 Language areas and surrounding languages 2.3 Population
    [Show full text]
  • The Living Heritage of Traditional Names in Postcolonial Zambia
    Osward Chanda PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA MA Thesis in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Central European University Budapest June 2020 CEU eTD Collection PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA by Osward Chanda (Zambia) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU. ____________________________________________ Chair, Examination Committee ____________________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________________ Examiner CEU eTD Collection ____________________________________________ Examiner Budapest June 2020 PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA by Osward Chanda (Zambia) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU. ____________________________________________ External Reader CEU eTD Collection Budapest June 2020 PORTABLE INHERITANCE: THE LIVING HERITAGE OF TRADITIONAL NAMES IN POSTCOLONIAL ZAMBIA by Osward Chanda (Zambia) Thesis submitted
    [Show full text]
  • Development in East Africa 3
    DEVELOPMENT IN EAST AFRICA 3 Cultural Shift in East Africa: Cultural (Im)materialities Biographies, Developments, DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT IN EAST AFRICA Cultural Shift: Developments, Biographies, (Im) materialities 3 edited by Piotr Cichocki, Maciej Ząbek Development in East Africa Development in East Africa Cultural Shift in East Africa: Developments, Biographies, (Im)materialities edited by Piotr Cichocki, Maciej Ząbek Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), a Constituent College of the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) & Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology University of Warsaw (Poland) Iringa – Warsaw 2018 © Copyright by Piotr Cichocki, Maciej Ząbek 2018 Reviewers: Prof. Hayder Ibrahim Ali Prof. Jacek Pawlik Proofreading by Iwona Handzelewicz Cover design by Grzegorz Sztandera ISBN 978-83-7401-639-1 Printed in Poland WDR, Włocławek CONTENTS Introduction – Piotr Cichocki & Maciej Ząbek ................................ 7 Part I DEVELOPMENTS Chapter 1 KAWONGA GERVAS AND WAKATI MALIVA East African Development: Language as a Forgotten Factor .... 31 Chapter 2 MAXMILLIAN J. CHUHILA Commerce or Food? Development Narratives of Maize Farming in Ismani, 1940s to the Present ............................................... 57 Chapter 3 MLOWE N.P. AND JUSTIN K. URASSA Formalization of Customary Land Rights on Rural Household’s Livelihood Outcomes: A Case of Handeni District, Tanzania ..... 91 Chapter 4 MACIEJ ZĄBEK Ujamma. Contemporary Discourse about Julius Nyerere Socialism ................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bibliography
    BIBLIOGRapHY ARCHIVaL MaTERIaL National Archives of Malawi (MNA), Zomba. National Archives at Kew (Co.525 Colonial Office Correspondence). Society of Malawi Library, Blantyre. Malawi Section, University Library, Chancellor College, Zomba. PUBLISHED BOOKS aND ARTICLES Abdallah, Y.B. 1973. The Yaos (Chikala Cha Wayao). Ed. M. Sanderson. (Orig 1919). London: Cass. Adams, J.S. and T. McShane. 1992. The Myth of Wild Africa. New York: Norton. Allan, W. 1965. African Husbandman. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd. Alpers, E.A. 1969. Trade, State and Society Among the Yao in the Nineteenth Century J. Afr. History 10: 405–420. ———. 1972. The Yao of Malawi in B. Pachai (ed) The Early History of Malawi pp 168–178. London: Longmans. ———. 1973. Towards a History of Expansion of Islam in East Africa in T.O. Ranger and N. Kimambo (eds) The Historical Study of African Religion pp 172–201. London: Heinemann. ———. 1975. Ivory and Slaves in East-Central Africa. London: Heinemann. Anderson-Morshead, A.M. 1897. The History of the Universities Mission to Central Africa 1859-96. London: UNICA. Anker, P. 2001. Imperial Ecology: Environmental Order in the British Empire. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. © The Author(s) 2016 317 B. Morris, An Environmental History of Southern Malawi, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-45258-6 318 BiblioGraphy Ansell, W.F.H. and R.J. Dowsett. 1988. Mammals of Malawi: An Annoted Checklist and Atlas. St Ives: Trendrine Press. Antill, R.M. 1945. A History of Native Grown Tobacco Industry in Nyasaland Nyasaland Agric. Quart. J. 8: 49–65. Baker, C.A. 1961. A Note on Nguru Immigration to Nyasaland Nyasaland J.
    [Show full text]
  • Language Shift Among the Tonga of Mkoka? Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality in Gokwe South
    Language Shift among Tonga of Mkoka? Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality in Gokwe South Shumirai Nyota Curriculum Studies Department, Great Zimbabwe University E-mail- [email protected] Abstract This paper gives a first evaluation of the ethnolinguistic vitality of the Tonga community of Mkoka in Gokwe South with focus on the Tonga language. In comparison to the other Tonga communities of Zimbabwe who like them were displaced from the Zambezi valley to make way for the construction of the Kariba dam in the 1950s, the Tonga in Gokwe South have received little attention from researchers if any. This research focuses on the way the Tonga of Mkoka in Gokwe South use their mother-tongue, Tonga (L1), and the second language, Shona, in the primary home/family domain and the secondary domains of language use. Results show that Tonga vitality is based on social status, demographic and informal support variables while its economic, socio-historical and formal support vitality was very low. The Tonga mainly use their (L1) in the family/home domain with interlocutors who are family, friends and neighbours for everyday language use and as they undertake social activities in their environments while for the secondary language use domains, they shift to Shona, the economically more powerful language in the area. Shona was, however, found to be creeping into some Tonga homes but reasons for this encroachment could not be concluded in this paper. Background to the Study The Tonga language of Zimbabwe being examined here falls under what Guthrie (1948/67/71) classifies as M64. It is under the Lenje-Tonga (M60) group.
    [Show full text]
  • [.35 **Natural Language Processing Class Here Computational Linguistics See Manual at 006.35 Vs
    006 006 006 DeweyiDecimaliClassification006 006 [.35 **Natural language processing Class here computational linguistics See Manual at 006.35 vs. 410.285 *Use notation 019 from Table 1 as modified at 004.019 400 DeweyiDecimaliClassification 400 400 DeweyiDecimali400Classification Language 400 [400 [400 *‡Language Class here interdisciplinary works on language and literature For literature, see 800; for rhetoric, see 808. For the language of a specific discipline or subject, see the discipline or subject, plus notation 014 from Table 1, e.g., language of science 501.4 (Option A: To give local emphasis or a shorter number to a specific language, class in 410, where full instructions appear (Option B: To give local emphasis or a shorter number to a specific language, place before 420 through use of a letter or other symbol. Full instructions appear under 420–490) 400 DeweyiDecimali400Classification Language 400 SUMMARY [401–409 Standard subdivisions and bilingualism [410 Linguistics [420 English and Old English (Anglo-Saxon) [430 German and related languages [440 French and related Romance languages [450 Italian, Dalmatian, Romanian, Rhaetian, Sardinian, Corsican [460 Spanish, Portuguese, Galician [470 Latin and related Italic languages [480 Classical Greek and related Hellenic languages [490 Other languages 401 DeweyiDecimali401Classification Language 401 [401 *‡Philosophy and theory See Manual at 401 vs. 121.68, 149.94, 410.1 401 DeweyiDecimali401Classification Language 401 [.3 *‡International languages Class here universal languages; general
    [Show full text]
  • Goodwin Draft List 2
    BC 290 Goodwin Papers A Personal Papers ..................................................................................................... 3 B Family Papers ......................................................................................................... 4 C Accounts and Finances ........................................................................................ 4 D Correspondence ..................................................................................................... 6 D1 Personal ............................................................................................................. 6 D2 Business ............................................................................................................ 6 D3 Newspapers ...................................................................................................... 6 D4 South African Broadcasting Commission: .................................................... 6 D5 Correspondence A-Z: ...................................................................................... 6 D6 General correspondence (ie – files labeled “Archaeological correspondence” or unidentified letters) ................................................................. 10 E South African Archaeological Bulletin; South African Archaeological Society ............................................................................................................................ 10 E1 South African Archaeological Bulletin ......................................................... 10 E2
    [Show full text]
  • Oral Traditions Among the ,Northern Malawi Ngoni1
    J. Humsnlt. (Zomba), 12, 1998, 1-18 Oral traditions among the ,northern Malawi Ngoni1 Al Mtenje and Boston Soko Introduction It has been widely believed that Ngoni culture has to be talked about in the context of the past (see Read, 1936 for example). The many changes which have taken place in the nature and structure of Ngoni culture and its manifestation are due to a number of forces: the missionaries and colonialism, the interaction with surrounding cultures and languages, Western education, the politics of nation..:building, and national language and cultural policies. Since the mid-nineteenth century when they occupied Mzimba District, after their long trek from Zululand in South Africa, the Ngoni have had to compromise their way of life with that of the Tumbuka and other autochthonous groups that they found. In the process, their culture, language and oral traditions have all suffered a certain amount of corrosion. This is to the extent that a hybrid culture of the old forms the Ngoni brought with them from South Africa, aspects of Tumbuka culture and elements of modernism, has emerged.2 This paper considers several aspects of Ngoni culture and shows the extent to which their preservation has been threatened by external forces. The critical influence of ChiTumbuka on the Ngoni'language is also discussed. , The paper discusses elements of Ngoni culture that have been preserved and considers some factors which have significantly affected N_goni traditions. This is followed by a brief examination of how the Ngoni language,has,'undergone some changes and some conclusions. Ngoni traditions It is now apparent that the Ngoni, though militarily and politically dominant, had no real policy on the development of their traditions.3 AS long as they maintained their political dominance over the different peoples they defeated and assimilated, they felt secure and complacent about everything else.
    [Show full text]