Author Archives: Harsh Pandey

Ever since the dawn of time nature has provided us with several beautiful things, one of them is the beautiful country of Malawi. Situated in southeastern part of Africa, running along the Great Rift Valley, Malawi has been one of the closest countries to be considered Heaven on Earth.

Lilongwe, Malawi’s Capital city has been in existence since 1971 and has been a bustling city ever since its creation. Taking advantage of its inherent natural beauty, Malawi has several National parks, wildlife and forest reserves such as Liwonde National park, Vwaza, Mwabi and several others. Malawi’s main attraction, Lake Malawi, has been Malawi’s main center of attraction.

The Northern Region is somewhat unforgiving for the subsistence farmer in Malawi, as it is characterized by strong, rising mountains with rocky terrain. Forested lands run throughout the area. The highest points are found in the rolling grassy hills of Nyika Plateau, a vast expanse rising to over 3,000m and dropping sharply down past the beautiful waterfalls of Livingstone to Lake Malawi. The Nyika Plateau is a bird-watchers paradise with hundreds of species of birds calling the plateau home, as well as hundreds of varieties of wild orchids, which bloom November – March. It is not unusual to spot zebra and several species of antelope on the plateau, and leopard is increasing in numbers.

The cool temperatures and rich soils of the North are perfect for coffee plantations, and is the North’s major cash crop along with small farms for tobacco and tea. Along the Northern lakeshore, rice is often grown for personal consumption and for sale in other parts of the country.

To the far North, the city of Chitipa is an isolated town near the border of Tanzania. It is home to possibly 20 different tribal people with as many different languages spoken there. Mzuzu is the largest city and the Northern Region and is the main transportation point to Tanzania, Nkhata Bay and Lilongwe. Mzimba, South-West of Mzuzu, is a smaller city with government offices and a large trading center.

Lake Malawi, also known as Lake Nyasa, is home to many endangered and almost extinct species, such as Painted Hunting Dog and Nile Crocodiles. Lake Malawi is ranked top among the world for freshwater diving destinations. It is the 3^rd largest freshwater lake in Africa and 11^th largest in the world. It fills a stretch of Africa’s Great Rift Valley approximately 580 km long and 75 km wide, reaching depths of more than 700 m.  Although estimates of its age vary (, it is regarded as and ‘Ancient’ lake in global terms.  It has a comparatively small catchment of about 130,000 km²; most of it in Malawi, and its outflow feed the Shire River, a tributary of the Zambezi.  The world heritage property includes just 7km² of the lake’s vast expanse, amounting to just 0.02 % of its total area.

Apart from its breathtaking Flora and fauna, Malawi is also home to some indigenous tribes whose history goes as far as 300 BC.

There are a different number of tribes that inhibit Malawi: Chewa, Nyanja, Yao are some of many. Most of the tribes greet foreign people with Humor and Humility. Men and women are free to wear whatever clothes they prefer, but most of them prefer to wear their tribal clothing, such as Chitenje, a multipurpose clothing which can work as a scarf, baby carrier, oven mitts and many more.

Despite the struggling economic background of Malawi, its people have always remained unaffected by it. Their rich heritage has made them one of the richest countries in the world, culturally. The people of Malawi are strong willed and kindhearted people who have always stayed together during their rough times.

Their great humility and kindness debunks all critiques against the people of Africa.

As the saying goes “Don’t judge a book by its cover” clearly explains the current situation of Africans. The world today views Africa as a continent infected with Poverty and diseases such that it should be set on Quarantine. Many such people should realize the true beauty of Africa and learn to appreciate the beauty of the land that our Ancestors lived in.

Background:

Born in the homeland of Malawi near Kasungu, Hastings Banda with no official record of his birth. He was born in a tribal village where no one kept any records for people’s birth dates.

Around 1915, Hastings left his home on foot with his uncle, teacher, to Johannesburg, South Africa to further his studies.

He further went to Indiana University for his premedical studies.

Main Events:

After his round of studies he soon came back Nyasaland (now Malawi).

He soon began touring the country, speaking against the Central African Federation and urged its citizens to become members of the party. He was supported enthusiastically wherever he spoke, and resistance to imperialism among the Malawians became increasingly common. By February 1959, the situation had become serious enough that Rhodesian troops were flown in to help keep order, and a state of emergency was declared. On 3 March, Banda, along with hundreds of other Africans, was arrested in the course of “Operation Sunrise”. He was imprisoned in Gwelo in Southern Rhodesia, and Orton Chrirwa, who was released from prison in August 1959, temporarily assumed leadership of the Malawi Congress Party.

Hastings used his political influence over the years to shape and maintains Malawi’s heritage.

The mood in Britain, meanwhile, had long been moving toward decolonization due to pressure from its colonies. Banda was released from prison in April 1960 and was almost immediately invited to London for talks aimed at bringing about independence. Elections were held in August 1961. While Banda was technically nominated as Minister of Land, Natural Resources and Local Government, he became de facto Prime Minister of Nyasaland—a title granted to him formally on 1 February 1963. He and his fellow MCP ministers quickly expanded secondary education, reformed the so-called Native Courts, ended certain colonial agricultural tariffs and made other reforms. In December 1962, RA Butler, British Secretary of State for African Affairs, essentially agreed to end the Federation.

It was Banda himself who chose the name “Malawi” for the former Nyasaland; he had seen it on an old French map as the name of a “Lake Maravi” in the land of the Bororos, and liked the sound and appearance of the word as “Malawi”. On 6 July 1964, exactly six years after Banda’s return to the country, Nyasaland became the independent Commonwealth of Malawi.

Banda’s involvement in Mozambique dates back to Portuguese colonial days in Mozambique when Banda supported the Portuguese colonial government and guerrilla forces that worked for it. Following independence in Malawi, Banda strengthened his relationship with the Portuguese colonial government by appointing Jorge Jardin as Malawi’s Honorary Consul in Mozambique in September 1964. He also worked against Liberation Front of Mozambique forces in Malawi in continued support of the Portuguese colonial forces.

By the 1980s, Banda supported both the government and the guerrilla movement during the Mozambique Civil War. He successfully gave the Malawi Army and Malawi Young Pioneers opposing missions in Mozambique from 1987 to 1992. He had the Malawi Army support the Mozambican government, controlled by FRELIMO after the country’s independence in 1975, to defend Malawi’s interests in Mozambique. This was done formally through an agreement in 1984 with Samora Machel. Simultaneously, Banda used the MYP as couriers and active supporters of Mozambican National Resistance, which had been fighting against Machel’s government since the late 1970s. Malawi was used to channel foreign aid from South Africa’s apartheid government. By September 1986, Machel, Robert Mugabe, and Kenneth Kuanda visited Banda to persuade him to stop supporting RENAMO. Machel’s successor, Joachim Jissano, continued to complain of Malawi’s lack of willingness to stop supporting Renamo. Banda however was trying to keep Malawian interests in the Port of Nacalain Mozambique and did not want to rely on Tanzania and South Africa ports for its imports and exports due to the expense. Mozambique and Malawi came to an agreement to place troops from both countries in Nayuchi near the port. Incidents of Malawi Army members being killed over the course of four years angered the Army because MYP members were involved with the insurgents, essentially pitting the two against each other.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings_Banda

http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/hastings-banda-former-president-malawi-born

Before we talk about the colonial experiences faced by United States and Africa, it should be first noted that the first wave of colonisation came from the Portuguese, The Portuguese conquest of Ceuta, during the early 15^th century. This conquest began with the Colonisation of America, which expanded to Africa for the sole interest of slave trade.

First lets talk about America:

Soon after its discovery and its potential for commercial and religious use, the Portuguese wasted no time to bring in their religion to control there newly found land. They forced their religion and brand any other religion as enemies to Christ.

After a few years, other European countries saw the potential of these foreign lands and sought to gain control for themselves. Countries such as Netherlands, England and France were one of the first ones to start their conquest in hopes of finding riches from native colonies such as Aztecs and Incas over the 16^th century.

Even before the arrival of Europeans, slavery existed. Some tribes would capture and enslave people from other tribes and sometimes execute them in the name of God. The Europeans used this and started exercising their control over the lands, in the form of slavery and manual labor

As the Europeans settled in the American lands, they also brought in alien diseases, which the natives were not immune to. This resulted in a large decline in the native population. With the decline in manual labor, the Europeans sought to other sources for manual labor such as Africa.

By the 18^th century the amount of Black slavery completely overwhelmed the American Native Slavery. Africans, who were taken aboard slave ships to the Americas, were primarily obtained from their African homelands by coastal tribes who captured and sold them. These African tribes raided several villages and captured all able-bodied tribesmen who could do any form of labor. The high incidence of disease nearly always fatal to Europeans kept nearly all the slave captures activities confined to native African tribes. Rum, guns and gunpowder were some of the major trade items exchanged for slaves.

The majority of the slaves were made to work in sugar colonies in Brazil. The life expectancy here was abnormally short and the number of slaves had to be continually replenished.

Now lets talk about Africa:

The Colonisation in Africa first began in the 7^th century with the settlements of Arab merchants on the Swahili coast. This trans Saharan trade allowed a small number of cities in Africa to develop Arab currency. Soon after the Europeans came and started colonising their own territories. Major European powers such as Britain, Portugal and France had already colonised major parts of Africa. New powers such as Italy and Germany had to scramble for whatever lands that were left out.

In Africa, Slavery, too, existed but in the form of domestic labor. When someone had done a bad deed, he/she was sentenced to be a slave for a particular amount of time. That person would still retain his social stature. There were different kinds of slavery that existed such as Domestic Service, where people were to work in houses and do the cooking for the family etc. and military slavery, where people were involved in training for their tribes military services and for hunting.

After the arrival of European colonialists, they entirely changed the meaning of Slavery and traded their resources for slaves as Men, women and children. During that time the Europeans did not consider the lives of African people to be equal to their own. They were treated as objects to be traded in the barter with African tribal chieftains.

These slaves were then sent to European ships and sent to their plantations in America where they were forced to work as lifeless laborers as plantation workers.

This Dark history will forever remain permanent in the book of History. The ideology of slavery still exists in some parts of the world. But that form is become obsolete thanks to today’s power of social media, which has helped, spread awareness throughout the globe.

I personally think that we are still pretty far from absolute abolishment of slavery in every corner of the world, but even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a

To start off, the name of the country Malawi came from the term “Marawi”. This came from the Marawi Empire of which Malawi was a part of .

Marawi means the “ray of light” which may have come from the sight of many kilns lighting up in the night sky.

The Aramawi people, who found the Marawi dynasty in the late 15^th century, migrated from present day Republic of Congo to escape unrest and disease.

Initially the Marawi Empires income was mainly dependent on agriculture that mainly produced millet and sorghum. It was during the early 16^th century when the Europeans came in contact with the people of Malawi.

The Portuguese arrived at the area of Malawi through the Mozambican port of “Tete” in the mid 16^th century and gave written reports about the people of Malawi.

The Portuguese were responsible for the introduction of Maize in the staple of the people of Malawian diet. In exchange the Malawi Empire traded slaves. These slaves mainly were sent to work in in Portuguese plantations in Mozambique of Brazil.

Ever since the involvement of Portuguese men, the Empire of Malawi went on a downfall.

This decline resulted from the involvement of two important groups into the region of Malawi: Angoni and Ayao.

The Angoni people came arrived from modern day South Africa as a part of the Great Migration, known as the mfecane, in escape from the Zulu empire, Shaka Zulu. The mfecane had a significant impact on Southern Africa. These people adopted shaka’s military tactics to subdue the lesser tribes like the Marawi they found along their way. As they progressed, the Angoni impis (soldiers) would raid and plunder food, women and livestock. The young men were recruited for their army, while the older citizens were turned to slave laborers or disposed off to Arab slave traders operating in Lake Malawi.

The other influent groups were the Ayao group. These people came from northern Mozambique to escape famine and conflict from other tribes, especially the Makua Tribe. The Ayao people were riche who amassed their wealth by trading ivory and slaves with the Arab slave traders. The Ayao were the first to use firearms in the battles with other tribes. As a benefit of their partnership the Arabs granted the Ayao people with sheikhs who in turn provided them with literacy and the Muslim religion. They also encouraged the production of rice, which became a major crop in the lake region.

After the Portuguese arrival, their next European contact was the arrival of David Livingstone in 1859. Subsequently the Scottish Presbyterian established churches such as the St Michaels and All Angels church found in 1876. Their main aim was to end the slave trade to the Persian Gulf. IN 1878 numerous traders, mostly from Glasgow formed the African Lakes Company, which allowed for smooth trade to missionaries.

After an intense session of slave trade and competition to rule, the Country of Malawi became a fully independent member of the Commonwealth on 6^th July 1964.

Two years later, Malawi adopted a republican constitution and became a One-Party state with Hastings Banda as its first president.

Malawi, the land of nature and breathtaking beauty, is one of the most unnoticed countries in terms of great vacation countries. Of course there are many rich countries that, using their wealth, have “created” replicas of nature and call it natures home.

The Jewel crown of the country: located in the heart of Malawi, Lake Malawi is the closest anyone can call natures true home. Its landscape being carved out since the time of our ancestors, Lake Malawi houses a breathtaking view of the lake and resorts. Being 360 miles long and 25 miles wide and having a depth of 2300ft, Lake Malawi is famous for its deep sea diving and several other aquaria activities.

But Malawi is not only famous for its breathtaking scenery and its lake, but also for its rare wildlife that it inhibits. Human wildlife fund researches have identified over 500 species that are not recovered anywhere in the world.

This vast body of freshwater fringed by beaches of golden sand is not only a scenic wonderland but it provides water sport opportunities for those looking for something beyond sun, sand and swimming.

Because of its rich fish harvest, Lake Malawi plays an important part in the country’s economy. Fishing villages are scattered alongside the shore and the traditional industry and practices are a huge attraction to visitors. Access to the Lake is possible along much of its length but it is usually necessary to take a small detour.

Despite having no settlement, the lake holds long stretches of totally uninhabited golden sand lakeshore. Kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, and water skiing are just some of the lake activities available to visitors.

The Lake now has several lodges for visitors to stay in for their vacation at unbelievably low prices.

Malawi people are, without a doubt, the friendliest anyone will ever encounter. Every visitor is welcomed with a warm long lasting welcome and is treated with great hospitality.

Malawi has a massive diversity of beautiful landscapes. The highest peak of Malawi touches 10,000 feet and the lowest just reaches the sea level. This different range in altitude in Malawi makes it the most diverse, in terms of landscape, in all of Africa.

Malawi is blessed with a rich diversity of flora and fauna and has no less than nine national parks and wildlife reserves. Whilst it may not have quite the sheer numbers of large mammals as some of its better-known neighbors, it makes up for this in other ways. Malawi provides intensive and exclusive wildlife viewing in unspoilt areas of genuine wilderness.

In recent years the Parks and Reserves have undergone something of a transformation, with private concessionaires helping to improve conservation and the quality of viewing.

In the South is the country’s longest established – Liwonde National Park, with excellent accommodation and the country’s best game viewing. Emerging rapidly is Majete Wildlife Sanctuary, subject to a re-stocking programme and due to become a ‘Big 5’ destination. A new lodge has been built and another is underway. Majete’s neighbors in the Lower Shire Valley.

In Central Malawi, The once great Kasungu National Park is sadly now rather forgotten and neglected, but the nearby rugged wilderness of the Nkhotoka wildlife reserves just opening up and promises much, having remained largely untouched for years. Two new lodges will open there in 2010.

In the North, the Nyika national park is one of Malawi’s jewels and offers unique wildlife viewing on it’s rolling grassland plateau. High quality accommodation is re-opening there in 2010. Nyika is complemented by neighbouring Vwasa National park, a lowland area offering bush-game. A new private concession was granted in 2009 in Vwaza, though development has yet to begin.

Has the uncanny beauty of Malawi and its flora and fauna catch your eye yet.

You will never have a dull moment while visiting Malawi. You will be left stunned and amazed when you witness the true beauty of Malawi and its breathtaking landscape.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets to Malawi as soon as you can!