Maseko Ngonis admit own culture trampling women rights

Some traditional beliefs and customs among the Maseko Ngoni continue to threaten rights of girls and women in the country, president of the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Mai Nakonyani has said.

Ngoni girls at the ceremony
Ngoni girls at the ceremony.-Photo by Lina
Mai Nakonyani consulting
Mai Nakonyani consulting.-Photo by Lina
Modern ngoni girls holding a calabash used for drinking beer, water
Modern ngoni girls holding a calabash used for drinking beer, water-Photo by Lina

“Most of our traditions are still old fashioned,” said Nakonyani. “Most of them are harmful to both girls and women.”

She cited early marriages among girls as one of such negative practices during the Maseko Ngoni annual festival held at M’buka Primary School in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe Sunday.

“They aggravate domestic violence and are hampering efforts to foster girl-child education,” she said.

The festival’s organizing chairperson, Mphatso Nkuonela, said the newly passed Marriage Law will help the girl-child and women in the tribe.

Nkuonela also said that their customs need to be tweaked to help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Maseko Ngoni, like the rest of other Ngonis, trace their origins to the Zulu people of kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

In Malawi the Maseko Ngoni are found in Dedza under Paramount Chief Kachindamoto and Kachere, in Ntcheu under Paramount Chief Ganya and in Thyolo under Paramount Chief Vumbwe. –Reporting by Lilongwe News Agency and Nyasa Times

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Mtukwa Majaha Gwaza
Mtukwa Majaha Gwaza
8 years ago

Maseko Ngoni are found in Dedza under Senior chief kachindamoto and kachere NOT paramount.In Ntcheu there are in Njolomole,Ganya,Phambala,Makwangwala,Kwataine ETC under Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani.All maseko Ngosiz are under Inkosi Gomani.Jere Ngonis are under Inkosi Mbelwa.

Noxy
Noxy
8 years ago

Never heard of Paramount Chief Ganya or Bvumbwe before– being someone from Ntcheu,the Paramount Chief we have under the Maseko Ngoni is Gomani.In fact, I must assume that the author has not done his research thoroughly before coming up with the above story.

wawa
wawa
8 years ago

kUCHINGONI AZIMAYI SANYAMULA CHISANGO BWANJI KODI izi nde zamakonodi….chishango and stick are for men and majaha

ago
ago
8 years ago

Us the Tongas are too smart to put animal skins on our body. Proud Tonga and Yao.

ago
ago
8 years ago

The ngoni culture has contributed to the depletion of wildlife especially baboons. Fifty years from now there will be no wildlife left as they use them for headgears shields and on drums please government should intervene this culture is not wildlife friendly ayambe kuweta anyani in their back yard. They also transfer ticks lice to humans. Humans are not animals leave the baboons alone.

Andy Ndaonazino
Andy Ndaonazino
8 years ago

If there are Paramount Chiefs that have sold their people to politics then Mbelwa, Lundu and Kaomba deserve to be mentioned. The other ones are Kyungu, Karonga. Our Ngwenyama Gomani has always tried to distance himself from partisan politics. Now is politics part of the culture of the Ngoni of Mzimba??? The most backward district in Malawi is Mzimba. Governement suggested to divide it into five parts to help in the development of the area but Ngonis of Mzimba have always refused due to their backwardness. No wonder many young men have left for South Africa to look for piece… Read more »

Ngoni wa Fake
8 years ago

“Chewa dominance tribe” my foot. Why did you loose lake Malawi to Yawos? Its true we speak Chichewa because of Kamuzu. If you talk of Ngonis from Mzimba then they are all fake. They are all proud Tumbukaz. They feel offended to call them Ngonis. Call a Yao I will I tell you kuti “Wangalusa” The first tribe to wear clothes. The first tribe own a gun.The first tribe to have a University Graduate”John Chilembwe”

Mazaza
8 years ago

The real ngonis are only from mzimba period you sometimes the spindulos and Tebulos are very funny u cant be a Ngoni if u are not like one practice hard maybe one day u will graduate to be a Ngoni, Bayethe Inkosi!!

Khuth'upa o'Machemba
Khuth'upa o'Machemba
8 years ago

Malawi Ngonis are no warriors. They were chased out of present day South Africa by Shaka, and they run, like crazy, tails between their legs. Shaka let them go, and they were lucky in that respect. Likewise, the Yao and aLhomwe also run away from Moz., but not necessarily from inter-tribal wars. And the Chewa: they must have also run away from something in central Africa. Migrations of that magnitude were never voluntary.
So, we are all in this country for the same reasons. And we all have a right to live and thrive in this country.

Hoitty
Hoitty
8 years ago

The Ngoni in the central have been absorbed wholesome by Chewas. These are the weakest. They have nothing to identify them as true Ngoni. Even their names are Chewa. Pls if you cannot afford other customs mayb just maintain true Ngoni names. The inly ngoni names available is the Inkosi. zoberanso ku Mzimba. Weakest Ngonis in Africa

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