Global - Technology - Review

Malawi is a landlocked country in southern Africa which lies along the Great Rift Valley, a situation which makes it liable to earthquakes. Lake Malawi forms part of its eastern border. It is densely populated and the infrastructure is poorly developed, a situation that has not been improved by cuts in its foreign aid income because of concerns about corruption. Most Malawians live in the rural areas and are involved with agriculture. Tea, coffee and tobacco are major crops. The sale of craft items like carved wooden masks is another source of income. Dance and music have an important part to play in the culture, featuring in ceremonies like weddings. Traditional music is still heard, but international styles like gospel, jazz, reggae and hip-hop are also popular. Lake Malawi National Park was established to protect the hundreds of endemic fish species, which have evolved in isolation in the 580 kilometre long lake. Nyika National Park has a large leopard population. Lilongwe is the administrative capital, though the commercial capital is Blantyre, named after the hometown of David Livingstone, whose missionary work first brought Christianity to the region in the Victorian era.