The
Chewa or
Cewa are a
Bantu people of
central and
southern Africa and the largest ethnic group in
Malawi. The Chewa are closely related to people in surrounding regions such as the
Tumbuka and
Nsenga. They are historically also related to the
Bemba, with whom they share a similar origin in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. As with the Nsenga and Tumbuka, a considerable part of Chewa territory came under the influence of the
Ngoni, who were of
Zulu or
Natal/
Transvaal origin. An alternative name, often used interchangeably with Chewa, is
Nyanja. Their language is called
Chichewa. Internationally, the Chewa are mainly known for their masks and their secret societies, called Nyau, as well as their agricultural techniques.