TRIBES FOUND IN MALAWI

MITUNDU YA ANTHU YOPEZEKA MMALAWI

THE CHEWA TRIBE

ACHEWA

The Chewa people also known as Mang’anja are one of the most dominant people in Malawi according to Malawi National statistics office 2019 census.
They speak Chichewa language which is the common language spoken by almost all Malawians regardless of their tribe. Chewa people from Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique observes the Kulamba traditional ceremony (at Mkaika in Zambia) the Headquarters of their chief Kalonga Gawa undi.

Mtundu wa achewa ndi mtundu umene uli anthu ambiri kutengera kalembera waboma amene anachitika mchaka cha 2019.
Iwo  amatchedwanso kuti amang’anja. Iwo amayankhula chichewa chomwe chili chiyankhulidwe cha dziko lonse lamalawi. Achewa aku Malawi,  Zambia komanso Mozambique amapita ku mwambo wa kulamba ku mkaika m’dziko la Zambia kulikukulu kwa mfumu yayikulu Kalonga Gawa undi.

Kulamba is a Chewa chiefs pay homage to their king Kalonga Gawa undi. Government representatives from the three countries, political leaders and some Chewas attend the great event.
The annual event is characterised by speeches, traditional dances and chief’s presentations to Gawa undi about Chewa tribe developments in their respective countries.

Nthumwi zamayiko atatuwa, andale komanso achewa ena amapitisa mphatso zawo kwa mfumu patsikuli. Kumwambowu kumakhala zoyankhulayankhula, magule ndi kupereka mituka.

POPULAR TRADITIONAL DANCE AMONG THE CHEWA

GULE WAWO OTCHUKA

GULE WANKULU

GULE WAMKULU

Gule wankulu is a ritual dance practiced among the Chewa. It is performed by members of the Nyau brotherhood, a secret society of initiated men.

uyu ndi gule wamidzimu amene amavinidwa ndi achewa. Guleyu amavinidwa ndi azibambo ndi anyamata amene amakhala mgulu la nyau.

Gule wankulu is performed by the Chewa tribe at the request of the village headman and at the end of harvesting season. It is also performed in some events such as weddings, funeral of a chief or any member of the Nyau society and installation of a chief. Nyau dancers wear costumes and masks representing a variety of character such as wild animals such as rhinoceros, lions and of course some they represent helicopters, cars and trains.

Amavinidwa panthawi imene amfumu alamula kuti avinidwe, pamaliro, polonga ufumu komanso paukwati. Nyau zimavala zigoba komanso masanza ndipo izo zimawoneka ngati nyama zakuthengo monga chipembere, mkango komanso ndege , galimoto kapena sitima.

The dance is a link between the spiritual past and present. Identities of Nyau dancers are held secret as elders and other traditional custodians say that Nyau dancers are ancestral monsters and not human beings.

Guleyu amalumikizisa dziko la mizimu yamakolo komanso dziko lathu. Mayina a  Anthu amene amavina gule  amabisidwa ndipo ena amati Nyau si anthu koma zilombo.

Gule Wamkulu teaches the audience and initiates moral and social values.
Nyau members are responsible for the initiation of young men into adulthood and for the performance of the Gule wamkulu at the end of the initiation season, celebrating the young men’s integration into adult society.

Gule wamkulu amaphunzisa makhalidwe abwino ndipo ovina nyau amaviniranso anamwali amene pamapeto pake amawaphunzisa mmene angavinire guleyo.

THE NGONI TRIBE

ANGONI

This Is a group of people that came from Kwazulu natal in South Africa in fear of Shakazulu. They settled in the northern and southern parts of Malawi such as Mzimba, Ntcheu, Mchinji and Dedza among others.

uwu ndi mtundu wa anthu omwe unabwera mmalawi kuchokera mdziko la south africa malo otchedwa kuti kwazulu Natal panthawi imene amathawa Shakazulu. Anakhazikika mchigawo chakumpoto komanso kumwera kwadziko la Malawi mmaboma a Mzimba, Ntcheu, Mchinji komanso dedza kungotchula ochepa chabe.

The northern Ngoni are also known as the Jere Ngoni and they were led into the country by Paramount Chief Zwangedaba While the southern Ngoni which are also known as the Maseko Ngoni were led by Mputa, Chidyaonga and Chikuse respectively. Their three pillars are Beer, Meat and Women. They are known to be great hunters and beer drunkers. Their annual cultural event is known as Umtheto which takes place at Hola mountain in Mzimba. Most of the times Malawian president and vice president attends the event followed by some proud Ngonis from all parts of the country and business community.
During the event, countless number of cows and goats are killed for meat and traditional beer is also brewed more than enough for everyone in attendance.

Angoni akumpoto kwamalawi amatchedwa kuti a Jere omwe anatsogozedwa ndi Mfumu yayikulu Zwangwedaba polowa mdziko muno pomwe Angoni akumwera anatsogozedwa ndi Mputa kenako, Chidyaonga kutsirizira ndi Chikuse. Ngodya zawo zitatu ndi mowa, nyama komanso akadzi. Iwo amadziwika ndi ukatakwe wawo paulenje komanso pakumwa mowa. Mwambo wawo wapachaka umatchedwa kuti Umtheto omwe umachitikira kuphiri la Hola m’boma la Mzimba. Mnthawi zambiri mtsogoleri wadziko la Malawi komanso omusatira wake amapezekanso kumwambowu.
Pamwambowu Ng’ombe ndi mbuzi zambiri zimaphedwa ndipo anthu amadya mwansangala.

Common dance

GULE WAWO

INGOMA

INGOMA

The Ngoni tribal dance: Ingoma, is the dance the Ngoni people in Malawi are proudly associated with. This is historical dance which the Ngoni people used to perform after triumph from war. Ngoni are famous because of their brave and strong character during wars.

Uyu ndi gule amene Angoni amakonda kuvina akawina nkhondo kalero. Iwo amatchuka ndikukatswiri wawo pankhondo.
Ingoma ndi gule odziwika kwambiri pakati pa angoni Akumzimba komanso Mchinji.

Ingoma is a very famous dance among the Ngoni of Mzimba and Mchinji Districts. Male Ingoma dancers wore costumes that includes a headgear made of animal skin and animal wool and feathers and some beads shines throughout the chest. With then in their hands us a sharp spear and a war shield. They sing and dance while marching like they are in war and stamp their feet on the ground. Hand clapping and ululation is also heard from women Ingoma dancers who wore a wrapper that runs from waist downwards.

Ingoma ndi gule odziwika kwambiri pakati pa angoni Akumzimba komanso Mchinji. Amuna amene amavina guleyu amavala zikopa zanyama komanso mnthenga ndi mikanda yomwe imawala pachifuwa pawo. Iwo amanyamula mikondo komanso Zishango. Amayimba nyimbo namaguba mokhala ngati akuvina pomenyesa mapazi awo pamnsi. Amayi amalulutira ndikuwomba mmanja ndipo amakhala avala msalu.

THE LHOMWE TRIBE

ALHOMWE

Lhomwe tribe is the second largest tribe in Malawi in terms of number of people according to Malawi Nation Statistics Office. This tribe is situated in the southern region of Malawi, having most people in Mulanje, Thyolo and Phalombe. Lhomwe people migrated into Malawi in the early 18th century from Mozambique. Due to available employment opportunities at Makande and Chisunga Tea factory in Thyolo, and Steko and Esparanza Tea estate in Mulanje they preferred to settle in areas around the factory land.

Uwu ndi mtundu wa anthu omwe uli wachiwiri kukhala ndi anthu ambiri muchiwerengero kutengera kalembera waboma wamchaka cha 2019. Alhomwe amapezeka kumwera kwa Malawi makamaka mmaboma a Mulanje, Thyolo komanso Thyolo. Iwo analowa mmalawi kuchokera mmdziko la Mozambique zaka zikwi ziwiri zapitazo. Iwo anakhazikika moyandikira mafakitale opanga tea a Makande, Chisunga ku Thyolo komanso Steco Ndi Esparanza kumulanje kamba ka mwayi wa ntchito omwe umapezeka mafakitalemu.

Lhomwes have their annual cultural event which is known as Mulhako wa Alhomwe occurring in the month of October. The then Mwene wa mwene (title for Lhomwe Leader) organises the event which takes place at Chonde in Mulanje. This cultural event was firstly opened by the late president of Malawi Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika.
Throughout its opening Mulhako wa Lhomwe has attracted different number of people even from other tribes.

Alhomwe amapanga mwambo wawo wapachaka wotchedwa Mulhako wa Alhomwe omwe umachitika kwa Chonde mmwezi wa Okotobala. Mwene wa Mwene ndiye amayitanisa mwambowu. Mwambowu unayambisidwa ndi malemu Pulezidenti wakale wa Malawi, Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika.
Kuchokera panthawi yomwe Mulhako wa Alhomwe wakhala ukukopa anthu ambiri ngakhale anthu amitundu ena.

Common dances

GULE WAWO

Beni

Beni

this is one of the famous dances of Lhomwes and it is performed during Mulhako wa Alhomwe and other cultural celebrations. Male beni dancers ware costumes that make them appear as police officers while women wore a green dress and a headgear

uyu ndi gule otchuka kwambiri pakati pa alhomwe ndipo amavinidwa mnthawi ya Mulhako wa Alhomwe ndi zisangalalo zina. Amuna ovina guleyu amavala zovala zonga ngati za apolisi ndipo azimayi amavala zovala zobiriwira ndi duku.

Tchopa

Tchopa

during this dance men wore animal wool that only covers the waist downwards leaving the chest on the scorching sun. They carry a large number of food plates on their head and dances without the plates falling.

povina guleyu abambo amavala zikopa zanyama ndipo amanyamula mbale za zakudya pamutu pawo namavina mbalezo osagwa.

THE TUMBUKA TRIBE

ATUMBUKA

This is also another tribe that is found in the northern part of Malawi (Mzimba, Nkhatabay, Chitipa, Karonga etc) and the lake shores of the Lake of stars (Lake Malawi). Tumbuka people speaks Tumbuka language which is similar to Tonga Language.
Their common dances are Malipenga and Vimbuza.

Uwunso ndi mtundu wina wa anthu omwe umapezekera kuchigawo chakumpoto ( chitipa, Mzimba, Nkhatabay,Karonga) komanso mphepete mwa nyanja ya Malawi. Iwo amayankhula Chitumbuka chomwe chimafananirako pang’ono ndi chitonga. Iwo amavina magule a Malipenga komanso Vimbudza.

Malipenga is a complicated dance Easy for Tumbuka people but hard for Others to dance to. Malipenga dancers are dressed in white shirt and a white short. They carry with them a walking rod while dancing to the special drumbeats.

Malipenga ndi gule ovuta kavinidwe kake ndipo amaphwekera ayini ake. Ovina guleyu amavala zovala zoyera ndipo amanyamula ndodo mmwanja mwawo povina motsatira kulira kwa ng’oma.

Vimbuza is considered to be a healing dance that is mostly danced when someone is sick. It is believed that the dance is linked to spiritual ancestral healing that has the power to heal someone once it is performed.

Vimbudza ndi gule wamidzimu yemwe akavinidwa amabweretsa mphamvu yamachilitso.

Yao tribe (found in the eastern region of Malawi) and Sena tribe (found in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts) are also some of the tribes that are found in Malawi.

Ayao (omwe amapezekera kuchigawo chakummawa) komanso Asena (opezekera mmaboma a Nsanje ndi Chikwawa) ndi ena mwa anthu omwe amapezeka mdziko la Malawi.