The Lomwe people live in the northern provinces of Mozambique in a ribbon that stretches westward into Malawi. They are closely related to a [Page 383]cluster of people called the Makhuwa who live to the north. According to their traditions, the Lomwe originated in northern Mozambique and have no further origin myths. Thus, they are not said to have emigrated from the North or the South. However, some scholars believe that they probably came from the Rift Valley regions farther north on the African continent sometime over the past 1,000 years.

Much of the Lomwe culture is dependent on the climate, environment, and animals found in their region. They are peasant farmers, for the most part, who do not have large towns or villages. Their villages ...