 Late 20th-century wood, paint, feathers, metal and wool mask from the Chewa people in Malawi in the British Museum | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Malawi | 7,270,000 (2020) |
| Languages | |
| Chewa, English, Portuguese | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, traditional Chewa religion, Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tumbuka, Tonga, Kunda, Sena, Nyungwe | |
| Person | MChewa |
|---|---|
| People | AChewa |
| Language | Chichewa |
| Country | Uchewa |
The Chewa (or AChewa) are a Bantu ethnic group found in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and few in Mozambique. The Chewa are closely related to people in surrounding regions such as the Tumbuka, Shona and Nsenga. They are historically also related to the Bemba, with whom they share a similar origin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They also share a history with the Munhumutapa. As with the Nsenga and Tumbuka, a small part of Chewa territory came under the influence of the Ngoni, who were of Zulu or Natal/Transvaal origin. An alternative name, often used interchangeably with Chewa, is Nyanja. Their language is called Chichewa. Internationally, the Chewa are mainly known for their masks and their secret societies, called Nyau, as well as their agricultural techniques.
The Chewa (like the Nyanja, Tumbuka, Senga, Nsenga, Mang'anja) are a remnant of the Maravi (Malawi) people or empire.[1]
There are two large Chewa clans, the Phiri and Banda,[2] with a population of 1.5 million people.[3] The Phiri are associated with the kings and aristocracy, the Banda with healers and mystics.
- ^ "Chewa | Encyclopedia.com". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ Phiri, Isabel Apawo (2007). Women, Presbyterianism and Patriarchy. Religious Experience of Chewa Women in Central Malawi. African Books Collective. pp. 23–26.
- ^ Gough, Amy (2004). "The Chewa". The Peoples of The World Foundation. Retrieved 18 October 2010.