The Outlook Travel team takes a deep dive into the cultural history and heritage of Malawi, from ancient rock art to local villages and communities.
High on a plateau central to Malawi, the Chongoni Rock Art area – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is in a cluster of forested granite hills that house a scarce tradition of farmer rock art as well as paintings by Batwa hunter-gatherers from the late Stone Age.
As an ancient religious ceremony site, the depicted symbols represent initiations and ritualistic practices, as well as food, the Ngoni invasion of the Chewa people, and the arrival of the white man. The art also records the transition from a foraging lifestyle to food production.
The exact Chewa Nyau masked figures that inspired the rock art can be seen conducting rituals in most villages around Chongoni all year round, and the Chewa girls’ initiation ceremony, Chinamwali, continues to be practised in some of the painted shelters adorned with older Chinamwali rock art.
The symbols are culturally relevant to women in the Chewa community, whose ancestors have inhabited the region since the early Iron Age. The Chewa agriculturalists continued the practice of rock painting well into the 20th century.
Another way for travellers to immerse in Malawian culture is to visit one of the country’s many villages. Whether in a national park, highland, or along Lake Malawi, most lodges and hotels have close links with their communities and have engaged with local chiefs to sensitise them to the interests of visiting tourists.
Demonstrations of cooking techniques or agricultural practices teach visitors about everyday life in Malawi. One of the most established and best-organised experiences is the Njobvu Cultural Village near Liwonde National Park, which offers a rare and unique insight into Malawian life.
Guests can immerse themselves in a rare opportunity to stay in a traditional mud-brick hut, and during the day, visitors have the chance to drop by the local village school, where they can witness the vibrant community. The Njobvu Cultural Village Lodge supports villagers by offering employment, making it an essential source of revenue that sustains and enriches the area.
