Chewa

The Chewa Culture

The Chewa people have always been deeply devoted to their ancestral traditions, exercising an enormous energy toward preserving the records of their origins and migrations. They are rich in cultural forms, dances, societies, and art. They are committed to advancing their cultural values among their children through rituals and ceremonial dramas. In fact, most cultural elements in Malawi are influenced by the Chewa.

The Chewa people retain much of their culture from the past in terms of religion and organization. For example, the unity of the Chewa based on their ethnic divisions, such as the Phiri and Banda clans, remains a factor in Malawian politics and society. The surnames Banda Pbiri suggest the widespread presence of the ancient Chewa identity.

Religion among the Chewa starts with the idea of the Creator Deity Chiuta, who created all living things on the mountain of Kapirintiwa along the borders of Malawi and Mozambique. Like many other traditional beliefs, the Chewa hold that the ancestors and spirits are necessary for the proper organization and operation of society. They believe that one can contact the ancestors and spirits and they can reciprocate through ritual. One way to ensure contact is to be initiated into Nyau, a society of secrets.

In general, the Chewa people have incorporated many ideas from the West into their culture. Surrounded by neighbors who have different origins, the Chewa have been steadfast in keeping their African traditions at the center of their social and religious lives. This strong protectionism of Chewa culture may be what is responsible for their constant support of cultural rituals and ceremonies.

Men's and Women's Roles

It is traditional to speak of the “giant dance” called Gule Wamkulu among the Chewa as the best way to understand the religious culture. These formal dances, Gule, are organized to allow the spirits and the ancestors to appear in the society. Dancers who are selected through initiation are considered powerful because of their spiritual state of possession. Men dressed as ancestral spirits in the form of trees, humans, and animals present themselves in formal societies. During these dances, the men who are dressed as ancestral figures are not to be touched. Indeed, if you pass one of these men on the road, you must make a sacrifice, give some money or a gift, or else you might fall victim to the unpredictable behavior of the Gule in their ancestral state.

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