Friday, September 16, 2011

(NYASA TIMES) Chewa people mourn Gawa Undi mother

Chewa people mourn Gawa Undi mother
By Charles Kufa, Nyasa Times
September 15, 2011

The Chewa speaking people in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique are mourning the death of Esinala Phiri, mother to Paramount King Kalonga Gawa Undi XI. Chewa Heritage Foundation (CHF) in Malawi announced on Wednesday the mother of the Chewa supreme leader died on Tuesday at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Zambia’s main referral hospital in Lusaka.

According to CHF, the king mother will be laid to rest with full cultural honors on Sunday at Mkaika palace in Katete district, eastern Zambia. Picture showing Chewa subjects paying homage to Kalonga Gawa Undi, the Chewa King of Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.

Mkaika palace is the headquarters of Paramount Kalonga Gawa Undi who to date presides over 10.5 million Chewa speakers from Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique.

The current Paramount Chief ascended to the throne in November 2004.

It is also at this palace, where the Chewa people from the three countries converge every August for the Kulamba traditional ceremony to show unity of purpose in honouring their rich traditional cultural heritage and paying homage to their Paramount Chief.

Former Malawian Vice President Justin Malewezi, the chairman of the Chewa Heritage Foundation in Malawi is also the spokesperson for the Kulamba ceremony and a special advisor to king.

For the past three years now, Malewezi has been reading the speeches of the Paramount Chief during the Kulamba event.

This year, the highly respected and superlative annual event was held on August 27th and as usual scores Malawian Chewa chiefs were in attendance.

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Monday, September 08, 2008

(LUSAKATIMES) No politics at Kulamba ceremony, says Chief Gawa Undi

No politics at Kulamba ceremony, says Chief Gawa Undi
September 8, 2008

The Chewa Royal Establishment in Katete district of Eastern province has banned wearing of political attires at this year’s Kulamba ceremony which takes place on Saturday this week.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Katete today, Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi’s senior Induna, Joseph Chikuta, said the Chewa Royal Establishment has banned the wearing of political attires at the ceremony to avoid adulterating the purpose of the ceremony.

Mr. Chikuta said the establishment has learnt in the past that mixing culture with politics especially during campaign periods could trigger differences among political rivals.
He said once political differences occur at ceremonies, the purpose of the cultural event is defeated.

He said the establishment wanted to strongly uphold the purpose of the ceremony and not to create a campaign stage for politicians.

Kulamba ceremony of the Chewa people in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, which is cerebrated annually, takes place this Saturday in Katete district at paramount chief Kalonga Gawa Undi’s Mkaika palace.

Acting President Rupiah Banda, in the company of several senior government officials, is expected to grace the ceremony.

Senior government officials from Mozambique and Malawi are also expected to be in attendance.

Last year, the ceremony was graced by late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, Malawian President Mbingu Wa Mtarika and Mozambique’s Armando Guebuza.

Meanwhile, preparations for the ceremony at the arena are almost complete and preliminary activities will start on Wednesday.

ZANIS/LNN/KSH/ENDS

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