Maluwa-Wamwalira
In Malawi there are many instances that you must be
culturally appropriate no matter how much of an “Azungu” (a foreigner) that you
are…A Maluwa or funeral is one of these occasions. Maluwa is coincidentally the
same word for flower. There are many interesting things at a Malawian funeral
looking at it from cultural stand point. I will try my best to describe the
events and cultural practices of the mourning process in Malawi. When someone dies
there is a mourning ceremony at the house of the deceased with family. The
women sit with the women in a room together while they cry or wail the whole
day until midnight. The men sit separately while chatting and mourning. You
walk into the room with your hands behind your back to show concern and
respect. You greet the most senior woman that is mourning and send your
condolences. You then sit and sing songs with them for at least for an hour to
show respect. The next day is a daylong of mourning and ceremonies. You mourn
at the hospital or wherever the body is by sitting as the women cry and even
the men as well. People bring cloth for the woman to wear, but nothing is
required for you to bring. Just your presence and concern is enough. There is a
committee of women who come to support women in the event of a death. But the
crying is not always followed by tears but with a loud distinguishable wailing.
The sound of a mother crying for her child that has died of malaria is one that
cuts through your soul. They then cook Nsmia in huge Mpikas (large clay pots)
and sing even more beautiful hymns. Then they proceed with a church ceremony
with more crying and wailing while the priest gives a sermon. But in between
you see the woman laughing and making jokes. It is interesting to see how
quickly the emotions can change. Finally you proceed to take the body to the
grave yard. The interesting thing about grave yards is that you always no one
once you can distinguish one. In a country with a big problem of deforestation
it is the only place where there are a lot of trees. It is bad and forbidden to
take trees from the graveyard. The body is laid to rest and family members
place flowers hence the coincidence of flowers and funeral as the same word.
Then you go home and move on. It seems that in America we don’t really mourn
like they do in Malawi. In this ceremony processes you grieve get it all out
and then you move on. It’s not held inside and reserved it’s all there for you
too seen and feels. Who and I to say which one is the best.
Living the green life
In America we are obsessed with living green as much as
possible now. But here I do so because it’s the path of least resistance. Every
drop of water I use I have to carry so you can imagine how that makes you
really appreciate water. They say here “Madzi ndi Moyo” which means water is
life. IT truly is. If there isn’t enough water your crops fail, your harvest
fails and you may not be able to feed your family for the year. If you don’t
have enough water you are forced to take water from unsafe places which can put
you life in danger. I find myself collecting rain water that I can use to wash
my dishes to then use for my garden. My water that I bathe with is also used
for my garden. If I make a charcoal fire I use every bit of the charcoal to
heat something that I may need at the moment or for tomorrow. I use a solar
charger and keep it charged along with all my electronics in the event (which
usually happens every day for at least 3 hours) that there is a blackout. My remains
that are appropriate are used for my compost which in turn I use for my garden
which in turn provides me with nutrition. I find myself only using and taking
exactly what I need and not more. This is not done because I struggle as much
as the average Malawian does but because I have a better respect for resources
that I use now. Have you ever tasted fresh beans taken from the pods? Village
rice is the best. But it only the best if you have to pick out the rocks!
Walking outside my house to find vegetables that just grow everywhere during
the rainy season. It’s nice finding food right outside your porch. Life is good
during the rainy season! Oh and it just finished raining and we saw the most
beautiful double rainbow. Whenever I worry or get sad I just look outside and
God always says in his own way that….everything is going to be alright. Or as a
peace corps volunteer once said I just outside and let Africa find me.
