Culture

Funeral rites for the Ngoni Paramount Chiefs

The Ngonis are a very traditional people and follow their rites to the tee.

Typical of African cultures, Ngoni tribe has traditional ways of observing the funeral of its paramount chiefs which follows three main stages; the burial ritual, first and last shaving ceremonies.

Therefore, as the late Chief M’mbelwa IV is laid to rest on Saturday, certain rites will have been observed to prepare the fallen chief for life in the land of the dead as well as prepare his successor for the life ahead.

The observation of the funeral rites begin with the proclamation of death, digging of the graves near the cattle kraal, the preparation of the body in a sitting position and burial of the body together with his possessions.

The day after burial, the kraal is extended over the grave so that the cattle should trample on it. The purification of the mourners through shaving of their heads takes place and the widows put on their mourning hat (zitambo) to signify their grief. In addition, an animal is ritually slaughtered as a sacrifice of the community and then shared to the family.

The last shaving ceremony involves calling on the spirit of the paramount to be in touch with the newly appointed chief. A fire is made for brewing sacrificial beer and a calabash of beer is offered to the spirit of the deceased paramount. They then slaughter an animal, and offer it to the spirit of the deceased paramount which is believed to be coming back.

During this ceremony, all the mourners are shaved again as an ultimate purification. They then remove the zitambo and burn their shaved hair near the river. The ashes are disposed of and the mourners batted before sharing the ritual.

The death of the paramount chief gives room for the first born son of the chief to ascend to the throne, a ceremony which follows several steps. Firstly, the decision regarding succession to the throne is made by the gathering of the elders.

The installation (kuimika) is done by crowning him with the gall bladder (nyongo) which is burned after two or three months of the new paramount’s rule, and traditional medicine (Tonga) is administered on the new paramount to strengthen him from any attack.

With the passing of M’mbelwa IV on Tuesday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre, will such rites be observed?

Inkosi Mtwalo and the secretary for Mzimba Heritage Association, Aupson Thole, said they would not reveal anything until the chiefs and elders agree on the funeral rites to be observed.—www.wawamalawi.com (with additional reporting by John Chirwa, Staff Writer).

 

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