Malawian Sign Language | |
---|---|
Native to | Malawi |
Native speakers | 93,000 (2021) [1] |
isolate? | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | lws |
Glottolog | mala1549 |
Malawian Sign Language is the language of the deaf community of Malawi.
Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south and southwest. Malawi spans over 118,484 km2 (45,747 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 19,431,566. Malawi's capital is Lilongwe. Its second-largest is Blantyre, its third-largest is Mzuzu and its fourth-largest is its former capital, Zomba. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name for the Chewa people who inhabit the area. The country is nicknamed "The Warm Heart of Africa" because of the friendliness of its people.
Music of Malawi has historically been influenced through its triple cultural heritage of British, African, and American music. Malawians have long been travelers and migrant workers, and as a result, their music has spread across the African continent and blended with other music forms. One of the prime historical causes of the Malawian musical melting pot was World War II, when soldiers both brought music to distant lands and also brought them back. By the end of the war, guitar and banjo duos were the most popular type of dance bands. Both instruments were imported. Malawians working in the mines in South Africa and Mozambique also led to fusion and blending in music styles, giving rise to music styles like Kwela.
Malawi elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president and the vice-president are elected on one ballot for a five-year term by the people. A simple plurality is required to win; there is no provision for a runoff election. The National Assembly has 193 members, elected for a five-year term in single-seat constituencies. Malawi is a multi-party system, which means that there are multiple parties as well as a number of independent politicians who do not formally associate with any party.
Malawian English is the English language as spoken in Malawi. English is the country's official language.
Essau Boxer Kanyenda is a former Malawian international footballer who played as a striker.
Ndali, or Chindali, is a Bantu language spoken by an increasing population in southern Tanzania of 150,000 (1987) and in northern Malawi by 70,000 (2003).
Chiukepo Msowoya is a Malawian footballer who currently plays for Malawian side Mighty Wanderers FC and the Malawi national team.
Atusaye Nyondo is a Malawian footballer who currently plays for Saint George in Ethiopia.
The Lomwe (Lowe) language, Elomwe, also known as Western Makua, is the fourth-largest language in Mozambique. It belongs with Makua in the group of distinctive Bantu languages in the northern part of the country: The Makhuwa-using area proper is separated by a large Lomwe-speaking area from the related eChuwabo, although eMakhuwa neighbours eChuwabo in a more coastal zone. To the south, the rather more distantly related Sena (ChiSena) should be assigned to a group with Nyanja and Chewa, while the distinct group which includes Yao, Makonde and Mwera is found to the north. Apart from the regional variations found within eMakhuwa proper, eLomwe uses ch where tt appears in eMakhuwa orthography: for instance eMakhuwa mirette ("remedy") corresponds to eLomwe mirecce, eMakhuwa murrutthu to eLomwe miruchu, eMakhuwa otthapa ("joy") to eLomwe ochapa.
The Twa of the Lukanga Swamp of Zambia are one of several fishing and hunter-gatherer castes living in a patron–client relationship with farming Bantu peoples across central and southern Africa. The Lukanga Twa live primarily among the Lenje, and speak the Lenje language.
The Mwangwego script is an abugida writing system developed for Malawian languages and other African Bantu languages by linguist Nolence Mwangwego in 1977. It is one of several indigenous scripts invented for local language communities in Africa.
Nyiha is a Bantu language primarily spoken in Tanzania and Zambia. The language of the 10,000 speakers in Malawi is different enough to sometimes be considered a distinct language.
Tonga is a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Nkhata Bay District of Malawi. The number of speakers is estimated to be 170,000. According to the Mdawuku wa Atonga (MWATO) there are also significant numbers of speakers living elsewhere in Malawi and in neighbouring countries.
The Malawian passport is issued to citizens of Malawi for international travel.
Limbikani Oscar Mzava is a Malawian professional footballer who last played as a centre back for South African club AmaZulu.
Malawi and Zambia have had a close history for a long time. They share common values, history, language, culture, and border. They were one country, along with Zimbabwe, under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Malawi has a large Zambian diaspora and Zambia has a large Malawian diaspora. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Mass media in Malawi consist of several different types of communications media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines and Internet-based Web sites. Malawi also has a growing music industry. Media is either privately owned or government owned.
Gerald Keith Phiri Jr. is a Malawian professional footballer who currently plays for Al-Hilal Club. He is the son of Malawian football manager Gerald Phiri Sr.
The Road to Sunrise is a 2017 Malawian drama film directed by Shemu Joyah. It was selected as the Malawian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. It was the first film to be submitted by Malawi in the Foreign Language Oscar category.
Charles Thom, also known as Charles Thomu, is a Malawian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Malawian club Silver Strikers, and the Malawi national team.