Nkhotakota
Encyclopedia
Nkhotakota (name derived from the Chichewa for "Corner Corner") is a town
and one of the districts in the Central Region
of Malawi
. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi
(formerly Lake Nyasa) and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. As of 2008, Nkhotakota had a population estimated at 33,150. The district had a population of 301.000.
convinced Chief Jumbe to stop trading slaves under a tree in Nkhotakota in the 19th century, which is currently in existence under a mission. Later Malawi president Hastings Banda
gave speeches under another tree in Nkhotakota during the 1960s, this one ironically known as the Livingstone Tree. This town was hit by the 2001 floods, and was the worst hit area of Malawi's Central region. Today, Nkhotakota is the largest traditional African town in Malawi and bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence.
Nkhotakota lies at an elevation of 1548 feet (471.8 m) on the shore of Lake Malawi. It is located on a rocky ridge overlooking a natural harbor overlooking Nkhotakota Bay, formed by a sandbar. In addition, Nkhotakota is 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) from Lilongwe
, Malawi's capital, and 378 kilometres (234.9 mi) from Blantyre
, Malawi's largest city.
, one has a good chance of seeing elephants. The reserve is also home to several antelope species, buffalo, and leopards. Several large rivers cross this reserve, the largest in Malawi.
Roughly 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) south of Nkhotakota is the Chia Lagoon, a large bay linked to Lake Malawi by a narrow channel, crossed by a bridge near Nkhotakota's one major road.
is the main language spoken in this town. A Swahili
settlement was also established in Nkhotakota. Several Chewa speakers live to the south of Nkhotakota, and Tonga is spoken in its north.
Nkhotakota is also a regional hub for the [World Medical Fund] - a UK-based medical charity, whose rural outreach services provide the region's villages with basic medical care including anti-retrovirals, anti-malarial treatment and infectious disease management.
is located on the corner of the road from Kasungu in Nkhotakota, and the main north south road offering foreign exchange facilities. At present there are no credit card facilities which will hopefully change soon.
, 48 miles (77.2 km) away. A bus runs from Salima
for two hours daily. In addition, minibuses run from here to Nkhata Bay
along the main road which connects these towns.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
and one of the districts in the Central Region
Central Region, Malawi
The Central Region of Malawi, population 5,491,034 , covers an area of 35,592 km². Its capital city is Lilongwe, which is also the national capital...
of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
(formerly Lake Nyasa) and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. As of 2008, Nkhotakota had a population estimated at 33,150. The district had a population of 301.000.
History
Nkhotakota was originally a group of villages in the 19th century which later served as a market for Arabian slave traders. David LivingstoneDavid Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. His meeting with H. M. Stanley gave rise to the popular quotation, "Dr...
convinced Chief Jumbe to stop trading slaves under a tree in Nkhotakota in the 19th century, which is currently in existence under a mission. Later Malawi president Hastings Banda
Hastings Banda
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the leader of Malawi and its predecessor state, Nyasaland, from 1961 to 1994. After receiving much of his education overseas, Banda returned to his home country to speak against colonialism and advocate for independence...
gave speeches under another tree in Nkhotakota during the 1960s, this one ironically known as the Livingstone Tree. This town was hit by the 2001 floods, and was the worst hit area of Malawi's Central region. Today, Nkhotakota is the largest traditional African town in Malawi and bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence.
Geography
Lilongwe
Lilongwe, estimated population 902,388 as of 2009, is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1.-History:The city started life as a...
, Malawi's capital, and 378 kilometres (234.9 mi) from Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
, Malawi's largest city.
Wildlife
Nkhotakota is home to the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, where, according to Lonely PlanetLonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
, one has a good chance of seeing elephants. The reserve is also home to several antelope species, buffalo, and leopards. Several large rivers cross this reserve, the largest in Malawi.
Roughly 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) south of Nkhotakota is the Chia Lagoon, a large bay linked to Lake Malawi by a narrow channel, crossed by a bridge near Nkhotakota's one major road.
Population development
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 12,163 |
| 1998 | 19,421 |
| 2008 | 33,150 |
Languages
ChichewaChichewa language
Chewa, also known as Nyanja, is a language of the Bantu language family. The gender prefix chi- is used for languages, so the language is also known as Chichewa and Chinyanja.-Distribution:...
is the main language spoken in this town. A Swahili
Swahili people
The Swahili people are a Bantu ethnic group and culture found in East Africa, mainly in the coastal regions and the islands of Kenya, Tanzania and north Mozambique. According to JoshuaProject, the Swahili number in at around 1,328,000. The name Swahili is derived from the Arabic word Sawahil,...
settlement was also established in Nkhotakota. Several Chewa speakers live to the south of Nkhotakota, and Tonga is spoken in its north.
Medical
There are two hospitals in Nkhotakota: Nkhotakota District Hospital and St. Anne's Mission Hospital. However,in the whole district there are 23 health facilities including 1 district hospital, 1 mission hospital, 1 government rural hospital, 1 mission rural hospital, 11 health centres, 10 private clinics and 2 dispensaries. In its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Society for Women Against AIDS in Malawi (SWAM) implemented a two year project in Nkhotakota.Nkhotakota is also a regional hub for the [World Medical Fund] - a UK-based medical charity, whose rural outreach services provide the region's villages with basic medical care including anti-retrovirals, anti-malarial treatment and infectious disease management.
Banks
A branch of the Malawi Savings Bank Commercial Bank of MalawiCommercial Bank of Malawi
The Commercial Bank of Malawi now known as Standard Bank Limited is a national bank in Malawi.The bank registered as a commercial bank on 15 March 1969. Initially it began with K2.5 million and the founder shareholders were the Malawi Development Corporation , Press Holdings Limited and Banco...
is located on the corner of the road from Kasungu in Nkhotakota, and the main north south road offering foreign exchange facilities. At present there are no credit card facilities which will hopefully change soon.
Nkhotakota Pottery
Nkhotakota Pottery is located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) from Nkhotakota. They offer a number of pottery courses, starting at US$90.Transport
Nkhotakota is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi, and it is served by the ferry MV Ilala that weekly crosses Lake Malawi. The nearest airport is at KasunguKasungu
Kasungu is a town in the Kasungu District of the Central Region of Malawi. The population of Kasungu is estimated to be 59,696 as of 2008.Kasungu is approximately north-west of the capital of Malawi, Lilongwe, and is east of Kasungu National Park...
, 48 miles (77.2 km) away. A bus runs from Salima
Salima
-Demographics:...
for two hours daily. In addition, minibuses run from here to Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay
Nkhata Bay or just Nkhata is the capital of the Nkhata Bay District in Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi , east of Mzuzu, and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Nkhata Bay is estimated to be 14,722 as of 2008. Nkhata Bay is from Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital city, and ...
along the main road which connects these towns.