{"id":1524,"date":"2020-09-22T10:58:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T10:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/12travelafrica.com\/malawians-broad-shoulders-and-even-broader-smiles\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T08:02:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T08:02:19","slug":"malawians-broad-shoulders-broader-smiles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/12travelafrica.com\/en\/malawians-broad-shoulders-broader-smiles\/","title":{"rendered":"Malawians; broad shoulders and even broader smiles"},"content":{"rendered":"

The people of Malawi play an important role while traveling through this special country. In not many other places will you meet people as friendly and helpful as here. Malawi is called the \u201cWarm Heart of Africa\u201d for a reason, and that\u2019s not only because of the pleasant climate. So, it\u2019s time for a blog about Malawians! <\/p>\n

Malawi\u2019s cultural history<\/h2>\n

First a bit of history. The oldest evidence of settlements around Lake Malawi dates from about 60,000 years ago. Various peoples with a Bantu background moved further into the continent from South Africa. This also applies to the region that is now called Malawi. That name probably means something like \u2018\u2019fiery flames\u2019\u2019, after the sunrise over the Lake.<\/p>\n

\"Malawi<\/a>

The iconic red sun can be seen on Malawi\u2019s flag<\/p><\/div>\n

The name could also come from the Maravi Kingdom, from the Amaravi people. These people left the Congo region at the end of the 15th century because of unrest and disease. They were stronger than the Bantu tribes they encountered and at the height of the Maravi Kingdom, they ruled most of today\u2019s Malawi and parts of Zambia and Mozambique. Gradually, the Amaravi came to be known as the Chewa, which seems to originate from an old word meaning \u201cforeigner.\u201d To this day, the Chewa are the largest ethnic group in Malawi. Although English is the country\u2019s official language, many more people speak Chichewa. Especially outside the cities, where 70% of Malawians live of small-scale farming or fishing.<\/p>\n

\"Map<\/a>

This map shows the extend of the Maravi Kingdom<\/p><\/div>\n

During the 16th<\/sup> century, the first Europeans came into the region. Mainly the Portuguese, who wanted to trade in ivory and iron. Later they also started trading slaves, that had to work on the Portuguese plantations in Mozambique and Brazil or were sold to the Arabs. In the 19th<\/sup> century, Shaka Zulu disrupted many lives in South Africa, causing lots of people to flee. The Angoni went as far as Malawi. They had adopted a variety of Zulu fighting techniques, so they were feared and could easily take control over the areas they wanted.<\/p>\n

\"Angoni<\/a>

His Royal Majesty Inkosi ya Makhosi M\u2019mbelwa V is the current Angoni King in Mzimba, northern Malawi. Source: times.mw<\/p><\/div>\n

During the same period, the Yao left northern Mozambique because of famine and unrest. These relatively rich people acted independently and stayed away from conflict. They traded with anyone who had something to offer and built strong relationships with the Arabs. In 1859 Dr. David Livingstone \u2018\u2019discovered\u2019\u2019 Lake Malawi. The Yao told him they called this water Nyasa, so Livingstone noted Lake Nyasa on his map. Not knowing that the Chiyao word nyasa really just means lake. Lake Lake was later changed to Lake Malawi when Nyasaland was officially named Malawi. Under British colonization (1883 \u2013 1964), large numbers of missionaries, especially from Scotland, came to spread Christianity. They also established schools and hospitals in Malawi. The Arabs already had a significant Islamic influence on the country. These two different religions still live peacefully and respectfully together in Malawi.<\/p>\n

Malawians are strong and proud people<\/h2>\n

Life in Malawi can be tough, but people generally handle this fairly well. They change what they can and the rest gets accepted. However, this acceptance doesn\u2019t mean that people no longer have dreams! Many depend on agriculture and therefore also on the seasons. Read William Kamkwamba\u2019s story of the tremendous effects a drought has on families and entire communitie<\/a> The population of Malawi consists largely of hard workers. Both physical work and creative work. Malawi is, for example, famous for its beautiful wood carvings! People are also proud of their country and family and of what they have achieved together. Stories about how previous generations built and expanded villages with blood, sweat and tears are still told regularly. Usually these stories contain heroic elements, such as fighting off hyenas!<\/p>\n

\"Malawian<\/a>

Our friend Gift has developed his own unique wood carving style<\/p><\/div>\n

Each region and culture has different ways to keep the more traditional stories alive. Usually this involves a lot of dancing to rhythmic music. The Chewa have the \u201cGule Wamkulu\u201d, a kind of secret society of men, the Nyau. In the Chewa culture, women play the most important role in the community. The Gule Wamkulu is thought to have originated as a kind of counter voice. Only adult men who have undergone special rites are allowed to be a part of it. Because of the colorful clothes and large masks, everyone remains anonymous and the men can share their honest opinion. Usually different moral lessons are passed on as well. Gule Wamkulu mainly takes place in the season after the harvest in July. It also happens at the Nyau\u2019s discretion at special weddings, funerals, and the appointment or death of a Chief.<\/p>\n