Ever since an expatriate tourism adviser labeled Malawi the “warm heart of Africa” in the 1970s, Malawians have worn the title proudly, sparing no effort to welcome visitors with open arms.
My family and I felt immediately at home here in Lilongwe, the capital. We arrived in April 2018, as part of the United Nations family in the country. We embraced this new adventure by exploring the countryside, discovering the wildlife and enjoying immense Lake Malawi, one of the continent’s Great Lakes, also known as “Nyasa,” meaning “lake,” which borders Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Surrounded by greenery, we seemed to live in an eternal spring. Behind its natural beauty and friendly attitude, however, the country suffers from climate change and economic shocks; it is struggling to overcome harmful traditional practices against women as well as people living with albinism; and it is striving to overcome a contested 2019 election, as it prepares for fresh elections in June.
*The views of the above article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Africa Speaks 4 Africa or its editorial team.