DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0370
354
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
that she is tattooed more profusely on the buttocks and legs. The circlet of beads was
formerly made like mapunda with a bark-cloth core, called mtumbo or mbule (ku-wula,
to slip off), referring to the mbule being slipped off over the legs. The fashion now is to
wear single strings of beads; each string is of one color but all the strings are different and
perhaps number a dozen or more.
Lipamba: a bead belt three-inches wide, worn by Yao women near Lake Nyasa. A
bead apron, lisejere, is also worn by them but not near Zomba (Pl. VI, fig. 2).
A woman removes her beads when she is “ unclean,” that is: (a) during the menstrual
period, (6) during the period of mourning for a near relative when coitus is forbidden, (c) be-
fore the birth of a child and afterwards until such time as she may resume intercourse with
her husband.
A large variety of beads has long been used by the Yao. There are some rarely seen
now which were much prized in years gone by, while others are of quite recent introduc-
tion. There is no evidence that they themselves made beads and there are few which are
probably not of European manufacture.
Clothing. The Yao used bark-cloth before the introduction of woven materials. The
older people may still be seen in it and it is used in most of the ceremonies. At one time,
they also used to weave a cloth called likamambo from a native cotton plant. This has been
given up since the introduction of imported materials.
For the method of wearing cloth, see Pl. II, fig. 2. The very poorest people wear only
a strip of calico round the pudenda, held in position by a string round the waist hanging
long behind and in front; this is called mthethe. Yao women, when menstruating, wear
under this a little piece of cloth called likumbi; it is only worn at this time and not always
as in certain other tribes.
Warfare. Fighting has naturally played a large part in the life of the Yao as among
other African tribes, but at no time were these people a trained fighting race. Warfare was
of a desultory character consisting mostly of raids by one feudal chief upon another. A
party of men belonging to a chief at enmity with another, meeting some of his followers
would challenge them, “ Alumbe, who are you for? ” The name of the rival chief in answer
was the sign for battle to begin. A fake answer would never be given to gain an advantage.
When about to throw a spear, the thrower calls to his adversary.
The Yao have possessed guns for a long time. Going out to fight, the Yao used to
leap from one foot to the other, and spin their guns around in their hands. They made
their own stocks for the rifles. They also used to make a small, cast-iron cannon about
three feet long, called kambula, “a little nose.” It was carried in the arms and was touched
off by a torch. Drums called sonjo were taken into battle. There is an old war drum
at Malemya’s village, taken in 1895 by the old Malemya from a Mang’anja chief called
Mkulumbo who lived near Lake Chiuta. Since then, this drum has always gone into battle
with Malemya. Around it his men would dance and anyone who had killed a man in battle
would run up to it and spit upon it in salutation.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
that she is tattooed more profusely on the buttocks and legs. The circlet of beads was
formerly made like mapunda with a bark-cloth core, called mtumbo or mbule (ku-wula,
to slip off), referring to the mbule being slipped off over the legs. The fashion now is to
wear single strings of beads; each string is of one color but all the strings are different and
perhaps number a dozen or more.
Lipamba: a bead belt three-inches wide, worn by Yao women near Lake Nyasa. A
bead apron, lisejere, is also worn by them but not near Zomba (Pl. VI, fig. 2).
A woman removes her beads when she is “ unclean,” that is: (a) during the menstrual
period, (6) during the period of mourning for a near relative when coitus is forbidden, (c) be-
fore the birth of a child and afterwards until such time as she may resume intercourse with
her husband.
A large variety of beads has long been used by the Yao. There are some rarely seen
now which were much prized in years gone by, while others are of quite recent introduc-
tion. There is no evidence that they themselves made beads and there are few which are
probably not of European manufacture.
Clothing. The Yao used bark-cloth before the introduction of woven materials. The
older people may still be seen in it and it is used in most of the ceremonies. At one time,
they also used to weave a cloth called likamambo from a native cotton plant. This has been
given up since the introduction of imported materials.
For the method of wearing cloth, see Pl. II, fig. 2. The very poorest people wear only
a strip of calico round the pudenda, held in position by a string round the waist hanging
long behind and in front; this is called mthethe. Yao women, when menstruating, wear
under this a little piece of cloth called likumbi; it is only worn at this time and not always
as in certain other tribes.
Warfare. Fighting has naturally played a large part in the life of the Yao as among
other African tribes, but at no time were these people a trained fighting race. Warfare was
of a desultory character consisting mostly of raids by one feudal chief upon another. A
party of men belonging to a chief at enmity with another, meeting some of his followers
would challenge them, “ Alumbe, who are you for? ” The name of the rival chief in answer
was the sign for battle to begin. A fake answer would never be given to gain an advantage.
When about to throw a spear, the thrower calls to his adversary.
The Yao have possessed guns for a long time. Going out to fight, the Yao used to
leap from one foot to the other, and spin their guns around in their hands. They made
their own stocks for the rifles. They also used to make a small, cast-iron cannon about
three feet long, called kambula, “a little nose.” It was carried in the arms and was touched
off by a torch. Drums called sonjo were taken into battle. There is an old war drum
at Malemya’s village, taken in 1895 by the old Malemya from a Mang’anja chief called
Mkulumbo who lived near Lake Chiuta. Since then, this drum has always gone into battle
with Malemya. Around it his men would dance and anyone who had killed a man in battle
would run up to it and spit upon it in salutation.