Chewa people

Chewa

Late 20th-century wood, paint, feathers, metal and wool mask from the Chewa people in Malawi in the British Museum
Total population
9.8 million[1]
Regions with significant populations
Malawi	7,270,000 (2020)[2]
Mozambique	1,290,000 (2017)[3]
Zambia	930,000 (2010)[4]
Zimbabwe	405,000 (2012)[5]
Eswatini	5,700 (2019)[6]
Languages
Chewa, English, Portuguese
Religion
Christianity, traditional Chewa religion, Islam
Related ethnic groups
Tumbuka, Tonga, Kunda, Sena, Nyungwe

The Chewa (or AChewa) are a Bantu ethnic group found in Malawi, Zambia and few in Mozambique. The Chewa are closely related to people in surrounding regions such as the Tumbuka and Nsenga. They are historically also related to the Bemba, with whom they share a similar origin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 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.^[7]

There are two large Chewa clans, the Phiri and Banda,^[8] with a population of 1.5 million people.^[9] The Phiri are associated with the kings and aristocracy, the Banda with healers and mystics.