I survived Africa, & Africa survived me

Intercultural Communication in Malawi, Africa

By: Jennifer Kalchik

Traveled to Malawi, Africa in May 2012 Social Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries

Introduction

Expected poverty to be obvious◦ Some parts very

urbanized Don’t judge or

assume I was going to

Africa, specifically Malawi

Culture is Learned

Located in Sub-Saharan Africa

Formerly known as Nyasaland Classified as a developing

country Warm heart of Africa

◦ Greet all visitors with a beaming smile, & with a genuine, disarming warmth.

Languages:◦ English◦ Chichewa

The Warm Heart of Africa

Borders:◦ Mozambique◦ Zambia◦ Tanzania

Major cities:◦ Lilongwe◦ Blantyre

Lake Nyasa (Malawi) is 1/3 of Malawi

About the size of Pennsylvania

Geography

Hot, but not humid Dry season

◦ No rain◦ Very sunny

South of equator◦ Start of winter◦ Sunset around

5:30 pm◦ 7 hours ahead of

United States

Climate

Christianity◦ Mostly Protestant◦ Catholicism◦ Most of our projects through

the Diocese of Mangochi and Presbyterian Church Alleluya Orphan Care Centre Saint Monica’s Center for Disabled and

Handicapped

Christianity

Muslim men are protective of their wives Mangochi is 50% Muslim

Islam

Radio◦ Most popular form of

communication◦ Wide geographic reach

Television◦ Only one channel, owned

by the government Internet/Cell Phone use

◦ Very limited access Daily Newspaper

Mass Media

How are you? 

I am fine (good) and how are you?

Thank you See you later

Muli bwanji?

Ndili bwino, kaya inu

Zikomo Tionana

Common Phrases

Objective rather than requirement

Patience was a virtue

Expect to wait Made a joke of

it, eventually

Time

Kwacha Dense population Agriculture Exchange rate Trading partners:

◦ South Africa◦ UK◦ United States◦ Japan◦ Netherlands◦ Zimbabwe

Making bricks

Economics

8-4-4 education system Grade years are called

Forms Public school

◦ 75:1 student/teacher ratio◦ Lack of supplies or room

Private school◦ 20:1 student/teacher ratio

Brain drain

Education

Class outside Goat and Hyena What I want to be when I grow up

Education

Clement Chiwaya First Aquinas

College graduate of the Community Leadership program

Graduated in 2002 Native to Malawi Currently serves on

Parliament as Head Whip of Mangochi District

Agriculture, human rights, development, democracy

28 districts of Malawi Mixed legal system of

English common law and customary law

18 years to vote President Joyce Banda

Goverment

The rising sun represents the dawn of hope and freedom for Africa

Black represents the people of the continent Red symbolizes the martyrs of African

freedom Green represents the nature of Malawi

Malawi Flag

Basic staples:◦ Nsima (cornmeal)◦ Chambo (fish)◦ Chips (french fries)

Bottled drinks Expect to wait a

long time Be careful how you

order!

Food

Those who are different are not as well received by society

Religious diversity Numerous tribes Hard to unite Lack of racial

diversity

Diversity

Many unwanted children

Dependencia A life of poverty There are a LOT of

them◦ Average age: 17 years◦ Nearly ½ of the

population 14 years The more children

the better

Children

Malawi is represented at the Olympics◦ Never won an Olympic medal◦ Never compete in Winter Olympics◦ Sometimes co-op with Nigeria

Sports ◦ Girls: netball◦ Boys: football◦ Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis Squash

Leisure activities◦ Hiking◦ Safaris◦ Mountain Climbing◦ Sight-seeing

Leisure and Sports

Illegal businesses◦ No regulation

Very pushy salesmen◦ “Sister sister, buy my products”

Wide variety of products Haggling common

Market Place

Be grateful for what you have

Learn about the culture of a country before you visit

Travel Form your own opinion,

don’t let others decide for yourself

Not everything goes according to plan

What I’ve learned

Tubbs, Stewart L. Human Communication Principles and Contexts. 12th ed. New York: McGrawHill, 2010. N. pag. Print.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html

http://www.malawitourism.com/pages/blog_01/blog_item.asp?Blog_01ID=182

http://www.aquinas.edu/marketing/display.html?id=654 http://www.atlapedia.com/online/countries/malawi.htm http://www.africaguide.com/country/malawi/culture.htm http://www.xe.com/currency/mwk-malawian-kwacha?r=1

Works Cited

Tionana!