Blantyre is Malawi’s largest city. In 1956, with which city did it combine to form one city?

Limbe. Blantyre-Limbe is the chief town and commercial and industrial centre of Malawi, with a population of nearly 600,000. The two cities retain separate identities, however, with Blantyre an administrative centre and Limbe more industrial. Blantyre is named after the home town of famous Scottish explorer David Livingstone.

This river is the principal river of Malawi. It drains Lake Malawi and runs 402km south before flowing into the Zambezi. What is the name of this river?

Shire. The Shire river flows through the Shire Highlands of south Malawi. It drops 400m from Lake Malawi to the border with Mozambique, Malawi’s lowest point. The river passes over many falls and rapids on its short path. The Shire river is part of the Great Rift Valley.

This island in Lake Malawi is the largest of two islands in a Malawian enclave situated in Mozambican waters. What is the name of this island?

Likoma. Likoma is a smallish island with a population of about 9,000, located toward the eastern side of Lake Malawi. Its most notable feature is its cathedral, which was built in 1903. The island was colonised by Anglican missionaries in the 1880’s. Chizumulu island is the smaller of the two islands in the enclave. Chisi and Tongwe are islands in Lake Chilwa, Malawi’s second largest lake, which have recently suffered from outbreaks of cholera.

When did Malawi become a republic?

6 July 1966. Malawi gained independence on 6 July 1964. Two years later, it became a republic. 23 October 1953 was the date when Nyasaland joined Rhodesia to become the Federation and 31 December 1963 is the date when the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dissolved.

In 1891, the area now known as Malawi was created a British protectorate. What was its name at the time?

Nyasaland . Malawi was called Nyasaland until 1953, when it joined with Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to become the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In 1963, the Federation was dissolved and Nyasaland became Malawi. Malawi became fully independent in 1964.

In 1975, Lilongwe became the capital of Malawi. What was the capital prior to this?

Zomba. Zomba was capital of British Nyasaland from 1891-1964, and the capital of Malawi until 1975. Although Zomba is no longer the capital, the University of Malawi and the National Archives are still located here.

Amidst controversy and protest, who was elected president of Malawi in May, 2004?

Bingu wa Mutharika. Bingu wa Mutharika of the United Democratic Front (UDF) won the election, succeeding Bakili Muluzi, also of the UDP. John Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party came second, followed by Gwanda Chakuamba of the Mgwirizano Coalition. Malawi became a multi-party democracy in 1994, after 30 years under the dictator Hastings Banda.

Malawi has two official languages. One is English. What is the other?

Chichewa. Chichewa is a native Bantu language. Most Malawians speak both Chichewa and English, except for some tribal Bantu languages spoken in the more rural north.

Lake Malawi saw naval action in the First World War. True or False?

t. In Malawi they claim that this was the first naval engagement of WW1, but I couldn’t corroborate that. From Wikipedia: “In 1914, the lake saw a brief naval engagement when a British ship, on hearing that WWI had begun, sank a German ship in Deutsch Ost-Afrika territorial waters.” Deutsch Ost-Afrika (German East Africa) was the then name of what is now known as Tanzania.

Which fish is the staple diet of many lakeside residents? This fish is the most important agricultural output of Lake Malawi.

Chambo. The other three are cichlid species. Cichlid are tropical freshwater fish which are often harvested for live sale as aquarium fish. Local fishermen catch chambo by using a net strung between a boat and a dugout canoe. The fish are attracted by one or more gas lanterns on the back of a third canoe which paddles into the middle of the net drawing the fish behind it. Before gas lanterns were available, a fire was lit on the canoe. From the shore it seems as if the stars have come to swim on the surface of the lake.

The former name for Lake Malawi was derived from the Yao word for lake. What is this name?

Lake Nyasa. This was the name given to the lake by David Livingstone, the first European to see the lake. The other three are all artificial lakes created behind dams of the same name in Mozambique (Cahora Bassa), Zimbabwe/Zambia (Kariba) and Zambia (Itezhi-Tezhi).

Lake Malawi is drained by which river?

Shire. The Shire flows for 402 kilometres through southern Malawi and Mozambique where it empties into the Zambezi. The Ruhuhu is the lake’s longest headstream and flows into the north of the lake. The Lukuga drains Lake Tanganyika on its way to the Congo River.

Lake Malawi borders which three African countries?

Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique. Lake Malawi forms the eastern border of the long thin country of Malawi. The eastern portion of the lake borders Mozambique and Tanzania lays claim to a small stretch at the northern end of the lake.

What was the name of the Malawian president who died on April 6, 2012?

Bingu wa Mitharika. Bingu wa Mutharika, born Brightson Webster Ryson Thom, passed away of a heart attack in Lilongwe, Malawi. He held the presidency from 24 May 2004 – 6 April 2012.

What are Malawi’s chief exports?

Tobacco and tea. Tobacco and tea are the chief exports of Malawi. Malawi also has the highest production of burley leaf tobacco, a low grade, high nicotine tobacco. The sad thing is Malawi depends on child labour to work on the tobacco farms which leads to acute nicotine poisoning also known as green tobacco sickness.

What is the traditional dress worn by women in Malawi called?

Chitenje. The chitenje is a rectangular piece of fabric which comes in a variety of patterns, colours and designs. It is tied in much the same way as you would tie a sarong. It is sometimes used to cover up slightly shabbier clothing and can also be used as a baby sling or as a pot holder. A multipurpose piece of clothing I would say.

Whose statue in Lilongwe commemorates the man/woman who ruled Nyasaland and Malawi from 1961 to 1994?

Hastings Banda. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the first president of Malawi. His statue is in front of the National Memorial Park in the capital city of Lilongwe.

Which ocean does Malawi lie on?

It is landlocked. Malawi is landlocked and is bordered by Tanzania to the northeast, Mozambique on the east, south and west, and Zambia to the northwest.

Malawi is home to the third largest lake in Africa, what is the name of the lake?

Lake Malawi. Not only is Lake Malawi the third largest lake in Africa, it is also the eighth largest lake in the world, and the second deepest lake in Africa. It is home to many species of fish, as well as hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles. Lake Malawi is also known as Lake Nyasa stemming from the days when Malawi was known as Nyasaland before it gained its independence from Britain in 1964.

By what name is Malawi also known as?

The Warm Heart of Africa. Malawi is rightly known as “The Warm Heart of Africa”. The locals you meet are friendly, courteous and hospitable. Of course, as with most African countries you do get the criminal element, but all in all Malawi is fairly safe. Do take care that you don’t walk around on your own at night.

Approximately one hour’s travel by bus from Blantyre is the city of Zomba. It’s not a tourist destination, but we have been told that we can see some endangered birds if we are lucky. Which birds are we going to try and see?

White-winged apalis. There are fewer than 100 breeding pairs of the white-winged apalis left in the wild. On the outskirts of Zomba, amidst the Jacaranda trees, you can see a pair of these beautiful birds. Zombia is in southern Malawi and was the country’s first capital.

Can you name the beautiful old stone building in Blantyre built in 1891?

St Michael and All Angels Church. St Michael and All Angels Church was designed by the Rev. David Scott who had no architectural background whatsoever. It was built by local labour who had very little experience in construction. Considering this, it is an absolutely magnificent building.

Mandala is another name for which southern Malawian City?

Blantyre. Blantyre, also known as Mandala, is the second largest city in Malawi and is its centre of commerce and finance. Karonga is in the north of Malawi, and Lilongwe to the east. Mangochi is also in the south but north of Blantyre.

Facts About Malawi

1-Malawi geographical shape is funny. To drive to the capital city Lilongwe from the southern city of Blantyre, you pass through Mozambique, but you do not need a passport. To travel to the northern city of Mzuzu, you pass through Zambia, but you also do not carry a passport.

2-Malawians are general peace loving, they like smiling at almost everyone, but they are docile and jealous (the national anthem attests to this).

3-Most Malawian men are hardworking, but they are generally broke.

4-Most Malawian women are beautiful, but they don’t have money.

5-Malawian men have more money than women.

6-Most Malawians travel without identity cards like wild animals.

7-Life in Malawi is generally slow, most shops and businesses close at 5pm.

8-Malawians don’t keep time and most of them don’t wear wrist watches.

9-Some Malawians still don’t wear shoes.

10-The majority of Malawians are religious, but they are not necessarily righteous.

11-Malawians have a great passion for football, but never win international competitions.

12-A Malawi president is above the law.

13-Malawi’s democracy is only 17 years old and is practised according to the feelings of a sitting president.

14-Any sitting Malawi president is rich, wise and intelligent, but the majority of his or her people are poor and illiterate.

15-Any Malawi president likes to be praised, likes seeing other people’s women dancing for him and hates to be criticised.

16-Any Malawi president and members of his/her political party are wise, while the leader of opposition and his followers are stupid.

17-Any Malawi vice president does not become a president, unless the president dies

18-Any former president gets arrested and prosecuted.

19-The private media is stupid and unpatriotic, while the state media is patriotic and professional.

20-Malawi’s economy relies mainly on agriculture and donor aid, but the buyers of main cash crop, tobacco, are stupid and the donors are also stupid.

21-Malawi’s private sector is weak and is controlled by government because it relies on government business and policies.

22-It is illegal to have airtime, fuel, forex, electricity and tap water all day and everyday of the year.

23-Malawi’s civil society and religious leaders are generally stupid.

24-Street demonstrations against government are officially banned.

25-The Malawi Constitution remains suspended since January 2010.

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