Inventing traditional authority

Lhomwe chiefs in Malawi

Bibliographic Data

ID4252920
AuthorsAmanda Lea Robinson (0000-0002-8315-7753, The Ohio State University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume62
Issue1
Pages25-51
Publication date2024-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Modern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-278X • E-ISSN: 1469-7777
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0022278x23000447
OpenAlexW4396704975
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited49

Chiefs in Malawi exercise significant authority based on legitimacy derived from the position's purportedly deep historical origins. But, does such legitimacy confer when a new chieftaincy is created from scratch? I address this question within the context of an ongoing cultural revival of the Lhomwe ethnic group in Malawi, which has included the appointment of many new Lhomwe chiefs and the creation of a Lhomwe paramount chieftaincy. Using a combination of in-depth interviews and original survey data, I explore the political drivers, mechanisms and implications of the this newly created Lhomwe chieftaincy. I find that its creation was driven by top-down, elite-led action rather than citizen demands, and that the newly appointed chiefs enjoy the most support among urban-based backers of the political party responsible for their appointments. This research contributes to historical work on the colonial-era creation of chieftaincies, but does so using a contemporary case of cultural engineering

Business · Political science · Traditional authority · African history and culture studies · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Public Administration · South African History and Culture