Malawian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Malawi is a landlocked country in south-east Africa, dominated by Lake Malawi, one of the largest lakes on the continent and home to hundreds of species of colourful fish. English and Chichewa are widely spoken. Malawians in Birmingham include nurses, students and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 45 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Malawian.

Working for Birmingham

Malawian nurses, carers and healthcare workers serve patients in the city's hospitals and care homes, and Malawian professionals work in education, social work and business. Many support health and education projects in Malawi, where links with Britain are strong.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Malawian community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

Nsima, a maize porridge, and chambo, a fish from Lake Malawi, are national favourites. Churches and community groups are central to Malawian life, and the Gule Wamkulu dance of the Chewa people is recognised by UNESCO. Independence Day on 6 July is a time of celebration.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Malawian community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.