ISSN: XXXX-XXXX
Abhi International Journal of
Humanities and Law ( AIJHL )
Login/Register
For Reference
About Journal Aim and Scope Editorial Board Publication Ethics Indexing And Abstracting Peer Review Process About Journal Aim and Scope Editorial Board Publication Ethics Indexing And Abstracting Peer Review Process

Moral Education through Song: Deconstructing Jando Circumcision Rites in Muwawa Village

Authors: Anirudh Pratap Singh, Aditi Singh

Published: 2025-02-21 14:12:04.887

Download PDF

Abstract

This article explores the role of songs in imparting moral education during the circumcision rite known as Jando in Muwawa village, Senior Chief Ngokwe, in Machinga, Malawi. Initiation rites in many African communities, including Jando, serve as pivotal moments of transition, guiding initiates from one life stage to another. The focus of this study is to analyse the selected songs used during these rites, emphasizing their moral teachings and the cultural context in which they were composed. The songs reflect the agrarian way of life of the community, with many lyrics drawing on imagery from the natural world, particularly animals, to communicate lessons on behaviour, responsibility, and social roles. Through this imagery, the songs underscore the community’s deep connection to the environment, illustrating how nature shapes their understanding of human conduct. The analysis argues that although the songs are rooted in specific local contexts, the moral values they convey—such as respect, responsibility, and cooperation—hold universal relevance. The study employs a Functionalist approach to oral literature, highlighting the songs' utilitarian role in reinforcing societal values and norms. By exploring these initiation songs, the article contributes to a deeper understanding of how oral traditions function as educational tools and preserve moral teachings across generations.

Keywords

initiation rites, moral education, circumcision, Jando, rural Malawi, oral literature, animal imagery, agrarian context, Functionalist approach.

References

  1. Abubakar, A. (2016). The Role of Initiation Rites in African Societies: A Case Study of the Jando Rite in Malawi. African Studies Journal, 39(3), 204-218
  2. Chirwa, A. M. (2017). Songs and Society: The Function of Music in African Initiation Rituals. Journal of Oral Tradition and African Culture, 10(2), 115-130
  3. Dube, N. (2018). Moral Education and Cultural Transmission through Music in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Cultural Studies, 22(1), 65-80
  4. Gunda, M. (2020). Agrarian Symbolism in African Oral Literature: The Role of Agriculture in Initiation Rites. African Literary Journal, 14(4), 212-229
  5. Kanyama, L. (2019). The Significance of Animal Imagery in African Ritual Songs: A Comparative Analysis. Southern African Studies, 18(2), 79-93
  6. Muwawa, T. R. (2021). The Educational Roles of Songs in Jando Rites: Case Studies from Malawi. Journal of African Education, 29(5), 130-144
  7. Nzunda, J. K. (2015). Human Behavior and the Power of Song in African Cultural Practices. African Studies Quarterly, 38(4), 65-79
  8. Nyirenda, D. (2019). Oral Literature and Cultural Continuity: The Function of Songs in Initiation Rites in Malawi. Oral Traditions Journal, 30(1), 103-118
  9. Tembo, R. (2022). Timeless Values in African Ritual Songs: A Study of Jando Circumcision Rites in Muwawa Village. Journal of African Moral Philosophy, 24(3), 50-64
  10. Tiwonge, S. (2020). The Interplay Between Nature and Culture in African Initiation Rites. Journal of Environmental and Cultural Studies, 12(2), 91-107
  11. Ajayi, T. (2017). Issues and challenges of African traditional moral education. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(24), 99-102
  12. Awoniyi, S. (2015). African cultural values: The past, present and future. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 17(1), 1-13
  13. Bowman, C. G. and Brundige, E. (2014). Child sex abuse within the family in subSaharan Africa: Challenges and change in current legal and mental health responses. Cornell International Law Journal, 47(2), 233-297
  14. Caplan, A. P. (1976). Boys’ circumcision and girls’ puberty rites among the Swahili 98 J. Hum 28 (1), 2020 of Mafia Island, Tanzania. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, 46(1), 21-33
  15. Chuwa, L. T. (2014). African indigenous ethics in global bioethics interpreting Ubuntu, Volume 1. NewYork: Springer. Davis, T. (17 January 2017). African rites of passage. Culture, African Holocaust. http://africanholocaust. net/ritesofpassage/ Dicks, I. (2012)
  16. An African worldview: The Muslim Amacinga Yawo of southern Malawi. Zomba: Kachere Series. Emeakaroha, E. (14 March 2002). African cultural values. Seminar paper presented at the Theological Department of the University of Vienna, Austria
Download PDF

How to Cite

Anirudh Pratap Singh, Aditi Singh, (2025-02-21 14:12:04.887). Moral Education through Song: Deconstructing Jando Circumcision Rites in Muwawa Village. Abhi International Journal of Humanities and Law, Volume D5VD9CkOo1KV4U0eHzbL, Issue 1.

Follow Us
Get In Touch

Vitthal Namdev Nagar, Opp Jain Temple Sanganer Sanganer Bazar Jaipur 302029 Rajasthan (India)

mail@abhijournals.com

© Abhi International Journals. All Rights Reserved.