Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

Msinja

Msinja is a site in Malawi. It was settled by the Chewa, specifically the Banda clan led by priestess Makewana, from the 12th or 13th century. It was below the Dzalanyama range and near to Kaphirintiwa Hill and Tsang'oma.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
167 w
Citations
4
Source
Msinja
Location of Msinja in Malawi
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Msinja (Africa)
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14°33′S 33°39′E / 14.550°S 33.650°E / -14.550; 33.650
TypeSettlement
CulturesMaravi
LocationLilongwe District, Malawi
Part ofMaravi Empire
History
Built12th or 13th century CE
Abandoned?

Msinja is a site in Malawi. It was settled by the Chewa, specifically the Banda clan led by priestess Makewana, from the 12th or 13th century. It was below the Dzalanyama range and near to Kaphirintiwa Hill (a sacred site in Chewa traditional religion) and Tsang'oma (the location of a shrine housing the mbiriwiri drum).123: 45-7 

References

References

  1. Libin, Lawrence (2014). "Mbiriwiri". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press.
  2. Juwayeyi, Yusuf M. (2010-08-01). "Archaeological excavations at Mankhamba, Malawi: An early settlement site of the Maravi". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. 45 (2): 175–202. doi:10.1080/0067270X.2010.491947. ISSN 0067-270X.
  3. Juwayeyi, Yusuf M., ed. (2020), "The origins and migrations of the Chewa according to their oral traditions", Archaeology and Oral Tradition in Malawi: Origins and Early History of the Chewa, Boydell & Brewer, pp. 35–54, ISBN 978-1-78744-893-3, retrieved 2025-12-10{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)