Malawi

Wedding
HOME CONTACT US WEDDING CHECKLIST RECEPTION TIPS BRIDE TIPS GROOM TIPS SUBMIT A SITE

9 Chewa Wedding Traditions You Must Know TOP POSTS & PAGES

About! Top 8 Wedding Limo and Car Hire in

The Chewa, an agricultural community living in Central Malawi, are a Bantu speaking people who speak the Lilongwe, Malawi
language Chichewa. This community, just like every other African community, has rich wedding traditions
that remain signi cant to date. Coming up is a list of the most common Chewa wedding traditions that you Top 10 Wedding Ring Stores in
will most likely nd practised if you attend a Chewa wedding. Lilongwe, Malawi

1)Marriage Negotiations Top 10 Wedding Venues in Lilongwe,

Malawi
All the negotiations related to the wedding are carried out at a court with only men present. It is only
after they are all in agreement that the woman is informed that there is a man who wants to marry Wedding Tips for the Lilongwe,

her. The men then go on to discuss the bride price (Chiongo) and the token of appreciation for the Malawi Groom

woman’s parents (Chamlomo).

Top 7 Wedding Planners in Lilongwe,
Malawi
2)Pre-marriage
Privacy & Cookies: Initiation
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
Close and accept
To nd out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Top 5 Garden Wedding Venues in
According to Chewa wedding traditions, this initiation process takes place either at the onset of
Lilongwe, Malawi
puberty and/or menstruation or just before marriage. This initiation process for young women
features explicit instructions pertaining to marriage.
9 Chewa Wedding Traditions You
Must Know About!
3)Dowry

Wedding Checklist - 10 Things to

Dowry is usually given in form of livestock like cattle, goats or chickens, or in form of grain or land. The Remember for your Lilongwe, Malawi
dowry is presented by the parents of the bride to the groom. As such, it is important to choose a bride Wedding
from a well-endowed family.
Interestingly, larger women are often favored as brides because they appear to come from well-to-do 9 Tips on Buying a Wedding Ring In
families that can offer signi cant dowry payments, and because they look strong enough to carry Lilongwe, Malawi
heavy loads.
Top 8 Wedding Photographers and
4)Wedding Attire Photos in Lilongwe, Malawi

The bride and groom make their out ts using a

‘Chitenge’ pattern of their choice. The guests, on the FOLLOW US!
other hand, turn up in their brightest out ts also made
of Chitenge, a brightly colored multipurpose fabric.

5)Introduction of the bride and groom

First, a group of women emerges from a nearby hut or

house, singing and dancing, escorting a man hidden
under a Chitenge. He walks to the center of the
gathering where the bride’s brother lifts the Chitenge to
SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL
check if he is the groom. If he is not the one, the man returns to where he came from and another
man is escorted towards the gathering. The bride’s brother then con rms that this is indeed the man
Join 2 other subscribers
his sister intends to marry.
The same group of women then goes to a different hut/house from which they emerge with a woman Email Address
covered in a Chitenge. The groom lifts the chitenge to check if it is his bride. If he shakes his head, the
women then bring out another woman, all covered up. He lifts up the chitenge, nods to indicate that it
is his bride, and then proceeds to appreciate her as the guests laugh and cheer. SUBSCRIBE

6)Presentation of the bride

CATEGORIES
After the groom acknowledges his bride, the bride’s brother then tells the groom’s brother that the
young woman is not dressed properly, and that he would like to get her some clothes. Even though
she is smartly dressed in an out t given to her by her parents, she is escorted back to a hut or small Select Category
home by the same group of women to change into a new out t. When she returns to the gathering
preceded by her bridesmaids, she is often resplendent in an out t matching the groom’s.

RECENT POSTS
7)Pelikani

Pelikani (translated as ‘share it’) is one of the more interesting practices found in Chewa wedding Just Gotten Engaged in Lilongwe, Malawi? Top 10

traditions. At the reception, the announcer calls different groups of family and friends to come forward Things To Do After Your Engagement!
and shower the couple with money as they dance around them. Wedding cashiers are appointed to 9 Chewa Wedding Traditions You Must Know
keep track of these monetary gifts. About!

8)Exchange of live chickens 8 Pointers to Help You Source a Wedding Cake in

Lilongwe, Malawi!

After the Pelikani ceremony is complete, the bride’s brother and groom’s brother return to the center of How to Choose an Excellent Wedding Planner in
the gathering. The groom’s brother then gives the bride’s brother a live rooster to present to the groom, Lilongwe, Malawi
and the bride’s brother, in turn, gives the grooms brother a live chicken to give to present to the bride.
The bride and groom then exchange rings. Meanwhile, the chickens are cooked and then brought 9 Simple Rules for Buying a Wedding Dress in

back to the brothers. The two men then link arms and dance as they sample the freshly cooked Lilongwe, Malawi
chicken. This part of the ceremony cements the marriage and the role of the brothers as mediators in
this marriage.

9)Post- Wedding Initiation

After the wedding takes place, the woman is dressed in strings of beads around the waist (Mkuzi) as
she waits for ‘Mkangali’, the last stage of the initiation ceremony. The actual initiation ceremony lasts
three days. Before the initiation day, the woman is taught to dance ‘Chisamba’, how to sleep with her
husband, as well as other do’s and don’ts in marriage.
On the morning of the initiation day, the young woman is taken to the initiation venue where she is
counseled in depth by ‘aNamkungwi’ (counsellors) from surrounding villages. On the same day, the
husband is also counselled by a ‘phungu’ (counselor) who advises him on the culture and taboos of
marriage and married people. He also goes through a ritual called ‘kuponyerana ngati mpira’ where he
is laid facing on the ground and the counsellors carry him and throw him around.

Chewa wedding traditions are a unique and beautiful part of the Chewa culture, traditions that must
de nitely not be allowed to die away!

Share this:

 

Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required elds are marked *

Comment *

Name *

Email *

Website

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

POST COMMENT

Privacy Policy

Earnings Disclaimer

Copyright © 2022 Malawi Wedding.com · Log in