[1][2] Vimbuza is a holistic healing approach that combines physical movement, vocalizations, and spiritual connection to promote emotional balance and well-being.

[1]The Vimbuza dance is believed to have originated in the 16th century in the Tumbuka kingdom, which was located in what is now northern Malawi, Tanzania and eastern Zambia.

[1] The cosmogonic models of Tumbuka traditional religion and ghost beliefs have developed through exchanges with neighboring peoples and under the influence of Christian missionaries since the end of the 19th century.

With black African slaves, the spirits reached the Arab North Africa and found followers among the lower strata of Muslim societies.

[3][4] Commonly observed indications of a possessive mind are tongue-speaking associated with such symptoms as apathy, limb pain, signs of depression, and disregard for basic cultural norms.

Among the Tumbuka, this may mean that the woman eats taboo foods instead of spending the night in the bush at home, walking around naked, or neglecting the usual household chores.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the Tumbuka lived west of northern Lake Malawi in isolated homesteads, several of which formed small chiefdoms.

The possessed could go into trance and communicate with the spirit, and in economic emergencies, they received messages about how humans could restore the lost harmony with nature.

[3] In the 1850s, the Nguni invaded the southern part of the settlement area from the south and subjugated the simple Tumbuka population that had not fled.

There were several hunger uprisings of the Tumbuka against their social oppression and increased religious activities to counter the loss of their own culture.

[3] In the 1880's, the new ideas of the afterlife promoted by Christian (Livingstonia) missionaries gained influence, especially among the Tumbuka and the similarly oppressed Tonga.

In 1891, colonial rule began in the territory of present-day Malawi with the establishment of the British Central Africa Protectorate, which was renamed Nyasaland in 1907.

According to their mythological origins, they can be divided into several groups: Vimbuza are explained with the spirits of fallen warriors, the end of the 19th century.

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Unlike other sacrificial rituals performed by priests, in the chilopa the patient himself makes the sacrifice, meaning that the Vimbuza spirits directly receive the life energy in the form of animal blood.

In her hands, she carries a small axe (mphompho) and a fly rod (litchowa), symbols of dominance, with which the woman expresses her radically changed social position in this exceptional situation.

[1] As the patient enters a trance-like state, the village women and children form a circle around them, singing songs that invoke the helping spirits.

The rhythmic beats of the drums, played by male musicians, complement the singing, creating a potent synergy that allows patients to express and overcome their afflictions.

[1] With roots dating back to the mid-19th century, Vimbuza emerged as a response to the trauma of oppression and continued to evolve as a healing dance during British occupation.

Despite being forbidden by Christian missionaries, Vimbuza persisted, offering a safe space for people to confront their mental health struggles in a way that was understood and accepted by their community.

While it continues to face opposition from Christian churches and modern healthcare systems, Vimbuza remains an essential part of rural Tumbuka culture, a testament to the resilience and strength of this ancient tradition.

With the new attention, however, the therapeutic aspect and the mythological meaning disappeared, a form of entertainment dances purified of their ghostly ideas developed, in which men have since participated.

Diseases arising from the social situation and formerly treated within the village community have become the private problem of an individual who, as in Western countries, needs psychological counselling.

[3] Despite being forbidden by Christian missionaries, Vimbuza continued to thrive, providing a vital outlet for people to express their emotions and find healing.

In the rich cultural heritage of the Tumbuka people of northern Malawi and eastern Zambia, Vimbuza encompasses possessive spirits, the bodily manifestations they trigger, and the therapeutic performances aimed at alleviating these symptoms.

This longstanding tradition is rooted in the belief that Vimbuza spirits disrupt the delicate balance of hot and cold forces within the human body, necessitating a ritualistic dance with music and singing to restore equilibrium.

[1] Diagnosed by healers, patients undergo a dance healing ritual treatment that spans several weeks or months, accompanied by spirit-specific drum rhythms created by men.

[6] Vimbuza encompasses a broader set of beliefs and practices, serving as a traditional healing procedure for both psychological ailments and demonic possession.

[7][8][9][10] The Vimbuza dance is mainly performed in the northern regions of Malawi, Tanzania and eastern Zambia, where the Tumbuka people are predominantly found.

By providing a shared experience that transcends generational and societal boundaries, Vimbuza fosters a sense of unity and belonging among the Tumbuka people.