Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a land-locked nation, in Southern Africa, although sometimes it is considered to also be situated in Eastern Africa. It is bordered by Tanzania to the north, Zambia on the north-west, and Mozambique on the east, south, and west. Lake Malawi comprises about a fifth of the country's territory and it is stretched through most of its eastern border. The origins for the name Malawi remains unclear; it is held to be either derived from that of southern tribes, or noting the 'glitter of the sun rising across the lake' (as seen in its flag).

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Malawi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Malawi derives its name from the Maravi, a Bantu people who came from the southern Congo about 600 years ago. On reaching the area north of Lake Malawi, the Maravi divided. One branch, the ancestors of the present-day Chewas, moved south to the west bank of the lake. The other, the ancestors of the Nyanjas, moved down the east bank to the southern part of the country.

Related Topics:
Maravi - Bantu - Congo - Chewa - Nyanja

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By 1500 AD, the two divisions of the tribe had established a kingdom stretching from north of the present-day city of Nkhotakota to the Zambezi River in the south, and from Lake Malawi in the east, to the Luangwa River in Zambia in the west.

Related Topics:
1500 - Nkhotakota - Zambezi River - Luangwa River - Zambia

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Migrations and tribal conflicts precluded the formation of a cohesive Malawian society until the turn of the 20th century. In more recent years, ethnic and tribal distinctions have diminished. Regional distinctions and rivalries, however, persist. Despite some clear differences, no significant friction currently exists between tribal groups, and the concept of a Malawian nationality has begun to take hold. Predominately a rural people, Malawians are generally conservative and traditionally nonviolent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Chewas constitute 90% of the population of the central region; the Nyanja tribe predominates in the south and the Tumbuka in the north. In addition, significant numbers of the Tongas live in the north; Ngonis -- an offshoot of the Zulus who came from South Africa in the early 1800s -- live in the lower northern and lower central regions; and the Yao, who are mostly Muslim, live along the southeastern border with Mozambique.

Related Topics:
Tumbuka - Tonga - Ngoni - Zulu - South Africa - 1800s - Yao - Muslim - Mozambique

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~