Click for info
MALAWI
Malawi is a small landlocked country (area 118,484 sq. km) in southeast Africa, bordered by Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. Just over 15 million people live in Malawi. It is among the world’s least developed countries and has a growing HIV/Aids problem.
The capital city of Malawi is Lilongwe, the former capital was Zomba. Blantyre is the largest city in Malawi. It is named after the home town of famous Scottish explorer David Livingstone.
Malawi was a British colony and was formally called Nyasaland. It became fully independent in 1964.
Malawi has two official languages English and Chichewa, a native Bantu language. Most Malawians speak both Chichewa and English.
Climate is sub-tropical, cool in the highlands and warm around the lake. The rainy season is from November to May.
NATIONAL FLAG OF MALAWI
The current flag of Malawi was adopted on 29 July 2010. The stripes were altered from the previous flag to match the original Pan-African Flag layout, with the red stripe at the top, the black stripe in middle, and the green stripe at the bottom. The rising sun at the flag's top was replaced with a full white sun in the centre, representing the economic progress Malawi has made since becoming independent.
Malawi Motto: Unity and Freedom
The landscape is a mix of rolling plains, long plateaus, hills and mountains. The main physical feature of Malawi is Lake Malawi (formally Lake Nyasa), which stretches 580 km long (3rd largest lake in Africa).
Lake Malawi has over 500 species of fish. The main staple diet is Chambo, a fish caught in Lake Malawi. The fishermen go out on the lake at night and use light to attract the fish.
The main river in Malawi is the River Shire. It flows from Lake Malawi through the Shire Highlands and across the border into Mozambique. The river is full of hippos and crocodiles and near the river are elephants and waterbucks.
Economy is based on agriculture and the main exports are tobacco, tea, sugar and cotton. The currency is called the Malawi Kwacha.
Early human remains and stone implements have been found near Lake Malawi dating back to 8000 BC.
Malawi has been called the “warm heart of Africa” and is renowned for its friendly people. Scotland and Malawi are both listed by Lonely Planet in the top 10 world’s friendliest countries.
SOS Children's Villages Malawi HIV/Aids Lesson Plan
Fun Trivia Some facts about Malawi quiz
Oxfam The work of Oxfam in Malawi
Teacher Link Lesson plan on toy making and resourcefulness, story book Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams