(literally translated as "The Wisdom of Old Times" or "Ancient Wisdom" ) is a seminal literary work by Stevenson L. Kumakanga that serves as a cornerstone for preserving Chewa and Nyanja cultural heritage. Originally published mid-century and revised across various editions by publishers like Longman Malawi and Dzuka Publishing Company, this text compiles traditional proverbs, idioms, and moral teachings native to the people of Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique.

Chewa philosophy distinguishes between chidziwitso (information or factual knowledge) and (wisdom derived from experience and applied for the common good). One can possess abundant chidziwitso yet lack nzeru entirely—a distinction that carries profound moral weight in traditional Chewa society.

However, significant progress has been made:

A collection of traditional stories.

. While physical copies are often listed as out of print or "collectable," digital versions are available through various archives: Nzeru za kale by Stevenson L. Kumakanga - Open Library