Maravi

15°S 35°E / 15°S 35°E / -15; 35

Maravi was an empire that comprised central and southern Malawi, parts of Mozambique, and eastern Zambia, from at least the early 15th century. The Chewa language, also known as Nyanja, is the main language that emerged from the empire.

The Banda clan and other smaller ones arrived in Malawi from Katanga, DR Congo in the 12th or 13th century, and are called the "pre-Maravi" by scholars. The Phiri clan adopted kingship and arrived in Malawi later, and are termed the "Maravi". The Maravi integrated the pre-Maravi's sociopolitical organisation and expanded via Kalonga (king) sending relatives to found new polities, however some broke away unilaterally; notable of these were Kaphiti and Lundu, and Nyangu and Undi. In the 17th century Kalonga Muzura expanded the empire, however failed to expel the Portuguese from the region. In the 18th century the system of succession broke down, leading to internal conflict and relative anarchy. This was exacerbated in the 19th century by frequent slave raiding by Yao chiefs, culminating in the death of the last Kalonga Sosola in battle in the late 1860s.

The empire had the Kalonga as the paramount chief, with other leaders paying tribute often in the form of ivory. Measures to ensure unity included perpetual kinship relations, where even non-Chewa chiefs were considered "sons" or "nephews" of the Kalonga, and the Mlira ceremony where royal family heads would convene on the capital to venerate the spirit of the Kalonga that led the Maravi's migration (Chidzonzi). Nyangu was the mother or sister of the Kalonga and head of the Phiri clan. While the Kalonga held secular authority, Makewana as head of the Banda clan and of the pre-Maravi held ritual authority, and was in charge of the rainmaking shrine at Kaphirintiwa Hill, with her matsano controlling other shrines.