The rock art of Mwana wa Chentcherere II rock shelter, Malawi : a site-specific study of girls' initiation rock art

Mwana wa Chentcherere II, or Chentcherere Rock Shelter II, the name by which it was more generally known when it was excavated in 1972, is one of the largest rock painting sites in Malawi. It has been a national monument since 1972 and has been the subject of extensive archaeological research. This report draws together unpublished recordings on the site from the 1960s through to the 1990s and analyses these in the context of recent advances in the knowledge of Central African rock art and local ethnography. In particular, the report explores the link between Chentcherere rock art and girls' initiation ceremonies ('chinamwali') among the Chewa. [ASC Leiden abstract]