Africa: the continent
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Malawi: the warm heart of africa
Malawi is a land-locked country bordered by Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. The area came to European attention with the voyages of David Livingstone who launched his exploration of Lake Malawi in 1861. On his travels north, he witnessed the devastating effects of the Portuguese and Omani slave trade; in terrible conditions, slaves were shipped from Nkhotakota to Zanzibar and further on. The slave trade eventually ended in 1895 with the establishment of British trade routes and Scottish missions.
In 1907 the British officially created the colony of Nyasaland and in 1964 Nyasaland was granted full independence and renamed Malawi under the leadership of Hastings Kamuzu Banda who would remain the de facto dictator of the country for the next 30 years. From 1994 to 2020 there were a series of elected but not whole-heartedly democratic governments. In 2020, the Malawi Congress Party under Lazarus Chakwera won power; the transition went smoothly and the country has been functioning more democratically since then.
Malawi is a very poor country with little in the way of natural resources. A mainly agricultural economy, Malawi's main crop is maize and its principle export is tobacco.
In 1907 the British officially created the colony of Nyasaland and in 1964 Nyasaland was granted full independence and renamed Malawi under the leadership of Hastings Kamuzu Banda who would remain the de facto dictator of the country for the next 30 years. From 1994 to 2020 there were a series of elected but not whole-heartedly democratic governments. In 2020, the Malawi Congress Party under Lazarus Chakwera won power; the transition went smoothly and the country has been functioning more democratically since then.
Malawi is a very poor country with little in the way of natural resources. A mainly agricultural economy, Malawi's main crop is maize and its principle export is tobacco.
useful data
Population: Canada 38,000,000 Malawi 19,000,000
Population density: Canada 3.85 persons per km2 Malawi 165.8/km2
Life expectancy women: Canada 84.1 Malawi 67.4
Life expectancy men: Canada 82 Malawi 64.7
Infant mortality rate (under 5 yrs) Canada: 4.2/1000 live births Malawi30.9/1000 live births
Population density: Canada 3.85 persons per km2 Malawi 165.8/km2
Life expectancy women: Canada 84.1 Malawi 67.4
Life expectancy men: Canada 82 Malawi 64.7
Infant mortality rate (under 5 yrs) Canada: 4.2/1000 live births Malawi30.9/1000 live births
rural malawi -- village life
websites for further information
www.visitmalawi.mw (official government tourism site)
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13864367 (good background information)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html (basic data)
www.lonelyplanet.com/malawi (practical information, especially for travelers)
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13864367 (good background information)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html (basic data)
www.lonelyplanet.com/malawi (practical information, especially for travelers)