In the study of modern chieftaincy in Africa, scholars have identified chiefs as important intermediaries for promoting increased voter turnout, new health policies and development initiatives. I add to this literature the importance of chiefs as cultural intermediaries. Using recent child marriage reform efforts in Malawi as a case study, I find that chiefs are key actors needed to implement culturally embedded policy changes. Drawing on descriptive evidence from 12 months of fieldwork across all three regions of Malawi, I find that chiefs are responsible for shifting cultural practices related to child marriage. Using a unique blend of democratic and non-democratic powers, chiefs in Malawi are defying expectations and using their position to promote girls’ rights. These findings contribute to our broader understanding of the political and cultural power of modern chiefs.

中文翻译：

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背诵最后一条章程：马拉维的酋长和童婚改革

在对非洲现代酋长制的研究中，学者们将酋长视为促进增加选民投票率、新的卫生政策和发展倡议的重要中介。我在这些文献中添加了酋长作为文化中介的重要性。以马拉维最近的童婚改革工作为例，我发现酋长是实施文化嵌入政策变革所需的关键角色。根据对马拉维所有三个地区 12 个月实地调查的描述性证据，我发现酋长对改变与童婚有关的文化习俗负有责任。利用民主和非民主权力的独特结合，马拉维的酋长们不顾期望，利用他们的职位来促进女孩的权利。