Villages

Most people in Malawi live in villages. They’re made up of huts with a dirt track connecting them to the road. Chickens and goats wander around outside their owners’ huts.

In the morning, women and children get up at dawn to collect water from the village pump, carrying big containers of water on their heads. Women spend hours outside their homes pounding maize with massive sticks.

People’s gardens aren’t usually near their houses, so they have to walk every day to look after their crops, carrying their tools with them.

There aren’t many shops, restaurants or sports facilities, so children play outside in open spaces. Football, skipping and bawo are favourite games.

On special occasions, like weddings and funerals, villagers get together to perform a traditional ceremony called Niaou. Men dress up in masks and dance to the beat of a drum.

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