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Many of today’s Malawians are descended from the Bantu people who migrated across Africa to Malawi for hundreds of years until the 15th century.
In Malawi, there are various tribes. Chewa people are the largest tribe, accounting for 34% of the population according to the 2018 census.
There are other ethnicities such as Lomwe (19%), Yao (13%), Ngoni (10%), Tumbuka (9%), Sena (4%), Mang’anja (3%), Nyanja (2%), Tonga (2%), Nkhonde (1%), Lambya (1%) and Sukwa (1%).
Let’s take off with the first ethnic, Chewa. This group is considered the main bloodline of Malawi. It settled in central Malawi and spread to some parts of Zambia and Mozambique. The language of Chewa is Chichewa, Malawi’s national language and is mainly used for communication in media and educational systems.
The Chewa people believed that all living things were created by God, giving them cultures, traditions, and dances that are full of the spirit of faith. The mask dance called Gule Wamkulu is also one of the Chewa rituals.
Moving on to the north, we will meet the Tumbuka tribe that is located amidst green hills and valleys. Chitumbuka is the standard language used by the Tumbuka people to communicate. The Tambuca people are known for their perseverance and long-standing traditions. In addition, Tumbuka has a folk dance that combines with a therapy called ‘Vimbusa’. It is believed to be a traditional medicine (magic doctor) used in treating certain diseases.
That’s not the end. If we move to the south, we’ll meet the Yao people, a community with rich Islamic cultural heritages, who settled on the south side of Lake Malawi. In the 19th century, the Yao people were powerful tribes and had great influence from coastal trading with Arabs in Zanzibar until they gained Islamic Influence from their trading partners. Since then whoever originated from Yao or has a Yao name, is considered Muslim. Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi, is also a Yao resident. The culture here is filled with lively markets and festivals.
Let’s travel a little further to the southeast of Malawi, we’ll meet the Lomwe people the most amidst rugged terrain and lush forests. The Lomwe are known for their talkativeness and belief in the souls of the departed and witchcraft. As a result, many people believe that Mulanje is also the best traditional physician. Lomwe is proof of the beauty of Malawi’s cultural heritage.
Last but not least with the Ngoni tribe. Here, farming is the principle also, eating meat and drinking African beer are the most important principles of the Ngoni people. The Ngoni are also proud warriors who have stories of the past with unique dances and outstanding fighting traditions by wearing animal skins to show that they are true hunters.
In conclusion, Malawi is a land of diversity, allowing us to experience and see new aspects of Malawi’s rich culture of each Malawi ethnicity and truly discover the heart of African culture.
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