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Chitima wajumbo (The Chief's train)

Elmas Nachilwa and group of Tumbuka women
Audio
Chitima wajumbo (The Chief's train)
Tumbuka women sing this song while threshing. It honors Chief Jumbo, who took a train in Nyasaland (now Malawi), though no railway lines existed in his district. Rhythmic accompaniment comes from raft rattles, made from dried grass and seeds.