Chewa people

Common card · No. 405431

The Chewa are a Bantu ethnic group primarily found in Malawi and Zambia, with few populations in Mozambique. The Chewa are closely related to people in surrounding regions such as the Tumbuka. As with the Nsenga and Tumbuka, a small part of Chewa territory came under the influence of the Ngoni, who were of South African origin. Their language is called Chewa. The Chewa are mainly known for their masks and their secret societies, called Nyau. Members of the Nyau brotherhood are responsible for the initiation of young men into adulthood, and for the performance of the Gule Wamkulu at the end of the initiation procedure, celebrating the young men’s integration into adult society. The Chewa (Mang'anja) are a remnant of the Maravi people. There are two large Chewa clans, the Phiri and Banda, with a population of 1.5 million people. The Phiri are associated with the kings and aristocracy, the Banda with healers and mystics.

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