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Archaeology and Oral Tradition in Malawi
Origins and Early History of the Chewa
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2020
About this book
First comprehensive account of the origins and early history of the Chewa as revealed by oral tradition and archaeology that allows a more accurate picture of a pre-literate society.
The Chewa are the largest ethnic group in Malawi, representing a third of the population of approximately 19 million, and their language - Chichewa - is Malawi's national language. Yet the last book on the history of this group was published in 1944, and was based on oral history, or tradition. As with much African history, oral history started to be recorded only in the late 19th century. This is the first book to use not only oral history, but also documents written by early Portuguese explorers, traders and government officials, as well as archaeology, to piece together the early history of the Chewa. The author is an archaeologist, who discovered the first major Chewa settlement, Mankhamba, near the southern part of Lake Malawi. His excavations have enabled a more scientific chronology of the migrations of the Chewa into what is today Malawi and have provided physical proof of their early history as well as their material and spiritual culture and way of life. Professor Yusuf Juwayeyi has written and documented a very readable history and description of archaeology, which reveals the value of combining oral tradition together with archaeology to arrive at a more accurate picture of the history of a pre-literate society. This book will be of value not only to historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, but also the general reader interested in Africanhistory.
YUSUF M. JUWAYEYI is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York.
South Africa: UCT Press
The Chewa are the largest ethnic group in Malawi, representing a third of the population of approximately 19 million, and their language - Chichewa - is Malawi's national language. Yet the last book on the history of this group was published in 1944, and was based on oral history, or tradition. As with much African history, oral history started to be recorded only in the late 19th century. This is the first book to use not only oral history, but also documents written by early Portuguese explorers, traders and government officials, as well as archaeology, to piece together the early history of the Chewa. The author is an archaeologist, who discovered the first major Chewa settlement, Mankhamba, near the southern part of Lake Malawi. His excavations have enabled a more scientific chronology of the migrations of the Chewa into what is today Malawi and have provided physical proof of their early history as well as their material and spiritual culture and way of life. Professor Yusuf Juwayeyi has written and documented a very readable history and description of archaeology, which reveals the value of combining oral tradition together with archaeology to arrive at a more accurate picture of the history of a pre-literate society. This book will be of value not only to historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, but also the general reader interested in Africanhistory.
YUSUF M. JUWAYEYI is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York.
South Africa: UCT Press
Topics
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Frontmatter
i -
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CONTENTS
vii -
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Preface
xi -
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List of Maps, Plates, Figures and Tables
xv -
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Acknowledgements
xvii -
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Chapter 1: Introduction
1 -
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Chapter 2: The Bantu origins of the Chewa
22 -
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Chapter 3: The origins and migrations of the Chewa according to their oral traditions
35 -
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Chapter 4: Expansion of the Chewa according to their oral traditions
55 -
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Chapter 5: The practice of archaeology
66 -
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Chapter 6: The Iron Age archaeology of the southern Lake Malawi area
89 -
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Chapter 7: The discovery and excavation of the Mankhamba site
111 -
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Chapter 8: Ceramic and stone objects
124 -
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Chapter 9: Metal objects and beads
139 -
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Chapter 10: Faunal remains
149 -
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Chapter 11: The Chewa at Mankhamba
171 -
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Chapter 12: Long-distance trade and the rise of the Maravi empire
186 -
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Chapter 13: The demise of the Maravi empire
204 -
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Chapter 14: Conclusion
213 -
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References
219 -
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Index
235
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
January 30, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9781787448933
Original publisher:
James Currey
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781787448933
Keywords for this book
Archaeology; Oral Tradition; Malawi; Chewa Ethnic Group; African History; Pre-Literate Society; Cultural Heritage; Anthropology; Archaeological Discoveries; James Currey; African studies; modern history; African history; Chewa; Lake Malawi; nineteenth century; Archaeology and Oral Tradition in Malawi: Origins and Early History of the Chewa; Early History; Ethnic Group; Chichewa; Portuguese Explorers; Migrations; Material Culture; Spiritual Culture; Way of Life
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
