Malawia is roughly 75% Christian.

Christianity is the majority religion in Malawi with 60% Protestant and 15% Catholic. Other sects include: Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican, Church of Central African Presbyterian (commonly called CCAP), and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Actually, Jehovah’s Witnesses have had a hard time in Malawi. The first Jehovah’s Witness missionary was forced out of Malawi in the1910’s, but the religion took hold anyway. President Banda did not approve of J.W, so he outlawed their religion. President Muluzi made it legal again in 1995, and it has flourished since.

Christianity has a huge presence in Malawi. Until 2001, Bible Knowledge was a required subject for all Malawian secondary schools students. It has been replaced with a Religious Education curriculum to include other world religions. Christianity was first introduced to Malawi along the lake by David Livingstone and other missionaries in the late 1800’s. Christianity spread rapidly under British colonialism despite an initially hostile welcome. Now most villages have a mission or extension of some Christian sect or another. Some of the missions provide vocational training, schools, or hospitals at cost for the local community. Services are in the local language in all areas and areas with large populations of whites/expatriates may offer services in English. Although Christianity has had a number of positive influences on Malawi (ie. education and provision of health care institutions), it has not been without cost. In a lot of ways Christianity looks down on traditional beliefs and ways of living and as a result, these cultural values have dwindled, if not disappeared altogether.

A Gulewam Kulu dancer.

Despite the western mission presence in Malawi’s history and society, the Christianity that Malawians practice is actually a unique brand. Christian beliefs are intertwined with traditional African practices and beliefs. For example, it is not uncommon to find men who consider themselves Christians, but have multiple wives or mistresses. In addition, many Malawian Christians consult traditional healers or even participate in the traditional beliefs of Gule Wamkulu. While these practices are not necessarily non-Christian, they are different from the traditional Anglo-Saxon variety of Christianity with which Americans are familiar.

Muslims make up about 15-20% of the population. Islam began with the Arab slave traders who traveled largely by boat. They reached Malawi via the lake in the early 1800’s, and began to convert the tribes along the lake. In the south, people of the Yao tribe are most strongly associated with Islam. Every village in the Yao areas of Balaka, Machinga, and Mangochi seems to have a mosque. The Muslim holy day is Friday and many students miss afternoon classes to attend the mosque. Muslim families are polygamist and especially in the rural areas, many of the women wear veils that cover their heads, but not their faces. Muslim families tend to be large. Some young boys (the wealthier families, perhaps) will attend classes at the mosques after school to learn Arabic. At some point, they also learn Kiswahili. Apparently, the Koran is written in Kiswahili, but not in Chichewa or Chiyao.

Relations between Christianity and Islam are quite tame. In cases where there have been conflict, it has been mostly politically charged. At the same time, Malawians in general are quite narrow in their view and understanding of world religions.

Indigenous beliefs and religions make up approximately 5% of the population and are rarely discussed, especially in Christian circles. Nearly every market has a section or two for the local African doctor’s medicines. These traditional healers also offer potions, spells, blessings and curses. The indigenous religions include ancestor worship. Among the Chewa tribe in the central region, the Gule Wamkulu practice a traditional dance which reflects religious belief in spirits. Leading dancers are elaborately costumed in ragged cloths, animal skins and usually a mask, all of which are designed to project the spirit they embody while dancing. The dancers themselves uphold a secret society that meets in cemeteries and follows stringent initiation practices. As a general rule, Malawians only enter cemeteries for funerals.