The Tumbuka are an ethnic group living in Malawi. The chief god is called Chiuta, who is all-powerful, omniscient and self-created. He is also a god of rain and fertility.

Tumbuka, like most African languages, has a lot of myths that constitute its cultural heritage. In Tumbuka, there are a lot of myths whose main objective was to help in bringing up children in an acceptable manner as well as entertainment. Most of these myths have been 'busted' but there are some that are still there because they have stood the test of changing times. There are a lot of vidokoni (fictitious stories) which always have a moral behind them. There are three animals mentioned more than any others in Tumbuka mythology and these are fulu (tortoise), kalulu (hare) and chimbwe (hyena). Fulu is consifered wisest animal, chimbwe the villain and kalulu the clever manipulator who can only be defeated by fulu.