The Lambya Traditions Customs, Beliefs, Rituals, Dances & Rites An ethnographic presentation of the Lambya ethnic group of Chitipa district of northern Malawi Davie Moses Simengwa JJJ THE LAMBYA TRADITIONS An ethnographic presentation of the Lambya ethnic group of Chitipa district of northern Malawi Davie Moses Simengwa Sponsored by Lanujos Social Research & Consultancy © Centre for client based research in Malawi Research and Publication committee C/o. Po Box 40044 Soche Blantyre 4 Malawi Plot # N3/0049-MHC Ndirande, Malabada Email: [email protected] Mobile: +265999438753. © 2014 by Davie Moses Simengwa All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means—electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise—without prior permission in writing to the author. Edited by: Lanujos Social Research and Publication Committee & Word Doctor; Editing & Proofreading Services (WODEPS) Cover designed by: Lanujos Consult Research and Publication Committee Cover illustration: Photos of Lambya tradition house, kraal, drum, and gourd 2013 Production 1st Edition 2013 ii Dedication This book is dedicated to Josephine Toliness Simengwa, inspiring mother, generous mentor, my hero and good friend. To all the Lambya community of Chitipa district remember your traditions as your identity. iii About the author Davie Moses Simengwa was born in 1986 at Queens Central Hospital in the city of Blantyre. Both his parents were teachers. He went to Mzuzu Demonstration and Chitipa C.C.A.P primary schools from 1994-2001. He was selected to Chaminade Secondary School where he did his secondary school from 2002-2005. In 2006 he was planning to join the Marianist brothers a Catholic religious society in Karonga but the plan failed. He graduated with a bachelor of social sciences degree in anthropology at the Catholic University of Malawi in 2011. Currently he is the founder and managing consultant at Lanujos Social Research & Consultancy Services firm, based in Blantyre Malawi and affiliate member of International Committee of Archaeological Heritage Management (ICHAM) and Southern Africa Research & Innovation Management Association (SARIMA). Davie has grown up mostly in Chitipa, where he has spent his early childhood life. Much of his life has been influenced by her mother, whom he was staying with. Her mother, who was a primary school teacher at Kawale FP School, she is a single parent who raised him up to adulthood, now retired. He is both a research archaeologist and cultural anthropologist locally trained. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication............................................................................................. iError! Bookmark not defined. About the Author ................................................................................................................................... iv Preface ................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Acknowledgements ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Glossary ................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. List of figures……………………………………………………………………………………….ix Chapter 1 ...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Introduction ........................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Importance of heritage ........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 6 General description of the Ulambya area and its historical overview .................................................... 6 Description of the name Chitipa and its present location ....................................................................... 6 The Lambya migration ........................................................................................................................... 8 Historical overview .............................................................................................................................. 10 Conflict of interest: relationship of Mwaulambya and Kyungu of Karonga district ............................ 12 The arrival and work of missionaries in Chitipa district (Ulambya region) ......................................... 13 First missionaries to work in Chitipa district ........................................................................................ 15 Ncherenje outstation ............................................................................................................................. 15 Altitude of the Lambya people at Ncherenje ........................................................................................ 17 Problems at Ncherenje .......................................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 3 ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Culture .................................................................................................................................................. 19 What is culture ...................................................................................................................................... 19 The Lambya marriage customs (Inyegha) ............................................................................................ 20 Procedures to Lambya marriage ........................................................................................................... 22 Observing the Lambya marriage .......................................................................................................... 22 Lobola hearing (U-kwimala) ................................................................................................................ 27 Ivyuma Inclusive ................................................................................................................................... 28 Ubalanced reciprocal (Ukuzimya amakato) .......................................................................................... 31 Marriage tradition in Chitipa; Lobola ................................................................................................... 31 Lobola as opposite of commercial transaction ..................................................................................... 32 Role of Lobola in Lambya society ....................................................................................................... 33 v Unlawful marriage (Kusemya/kuposola) .......................................................................................... 35 Inheritance (Impyanika) Levirate marriage ...................................................................................... 36 Levirate marriage .............................................................................................................................. 36 Divorce (Ukusoka) ................................................................................................................................ 37 Pre-arranged marriage (Ukupimbira) ................................................................................................... 38 Pregnacy and birth (Ulwanda na kupapa) ............................................................................................ 38 Naming a baby (Kumwita izina umwana) ............................................................................................ 39 Moral beliefs (Umuchinzi) .................................................................................................................... 40 Transition (Ugeza umwali) ................................................................................................................... 40 General Lambya beliefs ........................................................................................................................ 41 Lambya tradition dances ....................................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 4 ..................................................................................................................................... 45 Burial rites of the Lambyas .................................................................................................................. 45 Death among the Lambyas (Imphungo) ............................................................................................... 45 The message behind Lambya drums (Ing'oma) .................................................................................... 46 How Lambya drums are made .............................................................................................................. 46 The role of the Lambya chiefs at the funeral ........................................................................................ 47 Burial in Lambya society ...................................................................................................................... 48 Feasting and food during funeral .........................................................................................................