The Throne is
No Longer
Empty.
For 162 years, the seat of the Kalonga stood vacant. On the morning of 22 November 2025, Makewana — spiritual custodian of the Chewa — presided over a dawn ritual that ended the long silence. Kalonga Sosola IX now leads the Chewa people from the ancient capital of Mankhamba, Malawi.
Maravi History
Stood Empty
Maravi Kingdom
What We Stand For
Rooted in history. Building for the future.
Seven Centuries of
Maravi Legacy
From a great migration out of the Congo basin to the coronation of a new king — the story of Mankhamba spans seven centuries of power, culture, and resilience.
The Ancient Capital
Mankhamba was the heart of a great African kingdom.
Situated at the confluence of two rivers in the Mtakataka-Mua area of Dedza District, Mankhamba was the seat of the Kalonga — the supreme ruler of the Maravi people. For over 200 years, it was a centre of politics, trade, and culture.
Chinese Ming Dynasty porcelain, Indian glass beads, and copper from the Copperbelt all passed through here. Archaeologist Yusuf Juwayeyi excavated the site and confirmed what oral traditions had long held to be true. The throne fell silent in 1863. In 2025, it spoke again.
est.
1480
Year the Maravi Kingdom was established at Mankhamba
162
Years
The throne stood empty — from 1863 to 2025
— David Livingstone, Explorer & Missionary, 1859
— Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, First President of Malawi
— Prof. Yusuf Juwayeyi
The Revival
A new Kalonga for a new era.
On 22 November 2025, at 5:00 AM, Makewana — spiritual custodian of the Chewa and leader of the Banda clan — presided over the coronation of Raphael Nowa Phiri as Kalonga Sosola IX at Sosola Village in Salima.
The secular authority of the Phiri clan and the spiritual authority of Msinja were reunited. The 162-year interregnum was over.
OUR BLOG
News & Events
The Dawn Coronation: How Kalonga Sosola IX Was Crowned at Sunrise on 22 November 2025
On 22 November 2025, Raphael Nowa Phiri was crowned Kalonga Sosola IX in a pre-dawn ritual in Salima. Read what happened, what it means for
What Is the Maravi Growth Triangle and Why It Matters for Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique
The Maravi Growth Triangle is a plan to unite Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique through agriculture, trade, and shared infrastructure — rooted in 600 years of
Gule Wamkulu: The Great Dance That Survived Colonial Bans and What It Means Today
Gule Wamkulu — the Great Dance of the Chewa people — survived colonial bans and missionary pressure for centuries. Here is what it is, what
What Archaeologists Found at Mankhamba: Chinese Porcelain, Glass Beads, and a Lost African Kingdom
Archaeologists at Mankhamba, Malawi, uncovered Chinese porcelain, Indian glass beads, and 377 copper objects — hard evidence of a powerful African kingdom with global trade
Help Keep the
Flames of Malawi
Burning
The legacy of the Maravi Kingdom is not just history. It is a foundation for the future. Your support funds the preservation of the Mankhamba site, farming loans for local families, and scholarships for students of Chewa history.
Support the Revival →Archaeological Conservation
Help protect the Mankhamba stratigraphic record from environmental damage and fund the cataloguing of artefacts already recovered — from Ming Dynasty porcelain to ancient copper objects.
Contribute →Chewa Development Fund
Support CDHL's agricultural lending programme. Put seeds, tools, and training into the hands of smallholder farmers in Dedza and Salima — building economic self-dependence from the ground up.
Contribute →Cultural Preservation
Fund programmes that record oral histories from elders, support the Nyau brotherhood, and preserve Gule Wamkulu for future generations — keeping a living culture alive and vibrant.
Contribute →