As African states emerged from colonial rule and adopted the trappings of western parliamentary government, many nationalist politicians regarded chieftaincy as an archaic institution, either to be abandoned or reduced to ceremonial. Nevertheless, it has become clear that chiefs endure and not merely as cultural ornaments; indeed, in Malawi and elsewhere, they are still the main conduits for communication between the central state and the grassroots, and they continue to play an important role in development initiatives, local dispute resolution and, since the 1990s, as players in the ‘new democracy’, locally and at the national level. This article contributes to investigations into the nature of chieftaincy from precolonial times to the present, using a Malawian example, to ask how far the tenacity of this institution can be attributed to its reinvention, re-emergence or resilience. It examines chieftaincy in one area of Kasungu district in central Malawi from its establishment in the 18th century through the colonial and post-colonial periods up to the present to explore its nature over time. It concludes that the institution endures through a combination of reinvention, resilience and re-emergence. Chieftaincy survives through invoking tradition and adapting to specific historical circumstances but also by virtue of the personal qualities of officeholders. This case study illustrates the dynamism of chiefly governance.

中文翻译：

---

马拉维的酋长制：重塑，重新崛起还是韧性？Kasungu案例研究

随着非洲国家摆脱殖民统治并采用西方议会政府的陷阱，许多民族主义政客将酋长制视为一种古老的制度，要么被抛弃，要么沦为礼仪。然而，很明显，酋长们不仅可以忍受文化装饰品，还可以忍受。实际上，在马拉维和其他地方，它们仍然是中央国家与基层之间进行交流的主要渠道，并且它们在发展计划，解决当地争端以及自1990年代以来一直在“新民主”，地方和国家层面。本文以马拉维为例，对从前殖民时代到现在的酋长制性质进行了研究，问这个机构的坚韧性可以归因于它的重新发明，重新出现或复原力。它研究了马拉维中部Kasungu区一个地区的酋长制，从18世纪成立以来一直到殖民时期和后殖民时期直至现在，以探讨其性质。它得出结论，该机构通过创新，复原力和重新出现的组合来承受。酋长制可以通过借鉴传统并适应特定的历史环境而得以生存，也要依靠公职人员的个人素质。此案例研究说明了主要治理的活力。它研究了马拉维中部Kasungu区一个地区的酋长制，从18世纪成立以来一直到殖民时期和后殖民时期直至现在，以探讨其性质。它得出结论，该机构通过创新，复原力和重新出现的组合来承受。酋长制可以通过借鉴传统并适应特定的历史环境而得以生存，也要依靠公职人员的个人素质。此案例研究说明了主要治理的活力。它研究了马拉维中部Kasungu区一个地区的酋长制，从18世纪成立以来一直到殖民时期和后殖民时期直至现在，以探讨其性质。它得出结论，该机构通过创新，复原力和重新出现的组合来承受。酋长制可以通过借鉴传统并适应特定的历史环境而得以生存，也要依靠公职人员的个人素质。此案例研究说明了主要治理的活力。酋长制可以通过借鉴传统并适应特定的历史环境而得以生存，也要依靠公职人员的个人素质。此案例研究说明了主要治理的活力。酋长制可以通过借鉴传统并适应特定的历史环境而得以生存，也要依靠公职人员的个人素质。此案例研究说明了主要治理的活力。