Nkhata Bay District

Nkhata Bay is a district in the Northern Region of Malawi. The capital is Nkhata Bay. The district covers an area of 4,071 km.² and has a population of 164,761.

Nkhata Bay District houses the charity group Ripple Africa in Mwaya and the charity Temwa, ^[1] in Usisya.

Lake Malawi at Nkhata Bay

Nkhata Bay District, North of Nkhata Bay

v t e Regions and districts of Malawi Northern Region Chitipa Karonga Likoma Mzimba Nkhata Bay Rumphi Central Region Dedza Dowa Kasungu Lilongwe Mchinji Nkhotakota Ntcheu Ntchisi Salima Southern Region Balaka Blantyre Chikwawa Chiradzulu Machinga Mangochi Mulanje Mwanza Neno Nsanje Phalombe Thyolo Zomba

Coordinates: 11°30′S 34°00′E / 11.500°S 34.000°E / -11.500; 34.000

Notes

CULTURE Nkhata Bay is populated by the Tonga. However some parts like Usisya have Tumbuka people. The predominant language is Chitonga. Other languages like Chitumbuka, Chichewa, Khobwe, English and kiyankhonde are also spoken. The people of Nkhata Bay have several dances that they play according to seasons. Some of the dominant cultural dances are Malipenga (men), Chilimika (women) and Honala. These dances are devoid of a religious attachment. They are danced for entertainment.

ECONOMY Nkhata Bay is one of the poorest districts in Malawi. The majority of the people in the district are agriculturalists growing cassava, which is their staple food. Apart from cassava they also grow groundnuts, bananas, maize, pigeon peas and millet. The people along the lake earn their living through fishing. They catch usipa, batala, utaka, bombe among others. Very few of the populace are in wage employment at Chombe and Vizara where tea and rubber are cultivated. Most of the times, 80% of the male active population goes to work in other countries such as Tanzania and South Africa.

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temwa 2. History Section, Department of Antiquities, Malawi