Major ethnic groups in Malawi and their peculiarities 

3:23 "Mwini mbumba" does not mean uncle, it means Family head. Mwini mbumba has responsibility (and authority) over his siblings and his sister's children. His children fall to the authority of their mothers brother. And this is usually only for the major functions like marrage, funerals, land, inheritance etc. And "Nkhoswe" is not head of the family. Its just the couples family counsellor. And its not for the whole extended family, its just that specific couple. This is usually the uncles of the two but not limited to uncles. You can take a cousin, or brother for that matter provided they are married already. Also who ever you choose it means their wives are chosen too. I divorce you tell the "Nkhoswes" and everyone goes their way. Everyone takes what belongs to them and what they both own they divide equally. And divorce could be no fault divorce, but is was and still is extremely rare. Anyone can initiate it too. Their is no bride price but as stated in the video presents/money is given to the brides family. The value is determined by the groom though. A young man usually tells their parents first who advise on which uncle to use for this. As its an honor to which ever uncle you choose. But you can also just choose the uncle yourself and go straight to them. BTW, Chiuta also just means God. In the religion there is God and spirits vs the devil and his spirits. And no they are spirits in the general sense not ancestral spirits. Although those can come in dreams and deliver messeges. 1:19 They are not feared among other ethic groups as the said magic is practiced by all the groups in the country; frankly the whole Southern part of the continent. All tribes have magic believes and have practictioners. You can have certain villages famous for such but also not limited to Chewa Villages. "Nyau" is not a secret society of magic as it is was, in the old days, expected that all boys enter. And it wasn't limited just to those of the tribe, they could even force those of other tribes too if they lived in the village. Anyone could refuse of course (even of the tribe you could refuse) but they were such a nuisance about it on the roads. They just harrassed you a lot on roads. Most just entered to "buy passage".Kinda of a crappy secret if all the males enter and everyone also can. And women could enter too. As supporting roles. Mostly it was old women and they really really had to be enthusiates coz most just never did. Of course women don't enter like the boys but rather as support role because they don't get initiated. Its not there right of passage. And there is segregation so they don't meet . Its a rite of passage for the boys. After which you are treated with "respect" even through in reality that still depends on the actual age and character of the boy. I mean not much changed except that you no longer had to run away from Nyau like all the children and women. The Nyau are associated with magic, on that you were right. They are feared as some of the most powerful. But this is the elders them. And they use it to protect the sanctity of the practice.

This is very helpful. I'm writing a book about Africans who wind up in Japan and who become samurai, so I needed cultural tidbits like this.

You missed the Sena, Ngoni, Tonga, Ngonde, Sukwa, Lambya and Swahili

Whoever helped you to make this video misinformed and manipulated you.the second largest group in Malawi are the Yao people who are the majority in the entire eastern region of Malawi.the Yao people can also be found in the southern region in Chiradzulu,Blantyre and Zomba in large numbers.the Yao people can also be found in central region of Malawi in Dedza,Salima and Nkhotakota Districts.while the Lomwes u put in second are a majority in only three districts in Mulanje,phalombe,Thyolo and share land with Yao people in Zomba and Chiradzulu districts.Note that the Yaos are a majority in the Eastern region of Machinga, Mangochi,Namwera,Balaka,and many in Zomba.thank u!!

Thank You Soo Soo much for this video! I've learnt more about the traditional cultures in my country of Malawi than I have in my whole life. However, that's not a good thing. It is a great disgrace that knowledge of our own cultures are not talk in ours schools nor respected the way they should! Africa must Appreciate itself Better!

Hi can you do a video on the bantu tribe the yao can you include their kingdoms the mataka , makanjila and their fight against colonialism and can you include their precolonial tribal leaders such nyambi mataka 1 and Bonomali or bonomadi mataka ||| (3) and makanjila chiefs

You missed out on the Makonde ethnic group.

Phiri is pronounced Pee-ree not Fee-ree ☺️ good video though 👏👏

What about the sena tribe?

You have missed the sukwa people of mwenimisuku in northern Malawi

Can you tell about the Phiri people ? They're history

You have missed the " chi Tonga" tribe

Sena Mang'anja

Inadequate information, half baked project

right now right here the YAO are more than any tribe according to population growth

The whole story is fake. Tumbuka takes the whole northern and part of kasungu

Yao people

Do you mean Tonga not Songa dont remember a tribe in my country called Songa.