Chewa
The various tribes The Chewa people are divided into a main tribe and two sub-tribes; the Banda and the Phiri, also known as clans. Each of the clans has its fixed roles. The Phiri clan takes on leadership tasks, while the Banda are specialized in the art of healing and the art of shamanism. In Malawi there are two official languages. Chi…
The different tribes
The Chewa people are divided into a main tribe and two sub-tribes; the Banda and the Phiri, which are also called clans. Each of the clans has its fixed tasks. The Phiri clan takes on leadership tasks, while the Banda are specialized in the art of healing and the art of shamanism.
In Malawi there are two official languages. Chichewa, the language of the Chewa people, is one of them. The other is English. About half of the population in Malawi speaks Chichewa as their mother tongue.
Way of life
It is believed that the Chewa originally came from the area of the southern Congo Basin. Around the end of the first millennium, they migrated from the north, via Zambia, in a southerly direction. According to tradition, it is said that the Chewa founded a legendary kingdom called Maravi there.
The Chewa people are very traditional and maintain their rituals. One of their traditions is the dance with a "sacred" white mask at funerals, another are the tattoos. Through dance, the Chewa also maintain contact with the dead and spirits.
