Malawi Washington Association (MWA) was established in 1994 and is the first association in the United States that was organized to promote Malawian culture for Malawians in the diaspora residing in the United States and Canada. It was founded by Peter Kapakasa, Stafford Chipungu, Jonathan Kamkwalala, and the late Henri Nsanjama. It is a non-political, non-ethnic organization that works as a support system to Malawians in the diaspora. It works with a number of organization in the DC area and abroad in order to act as a resource of information on Malawi and to promote Malawian culture. It also supports Malawians in the diaspora living in the United States including Malawian-Americans

Malawian American

Malawian Americans includes a group of individuals born in Malawi or of Malawian descent that are living in the United State of America. The Malawian Diaspora mainly consists of academics, small business owners, medical professionals and laborers. According to the U.S. Census , African immigrants...

 and Malawian citizens. It serves to creates Malawian identity amongst Malawian-Americans and Malawians in the DC area. This Includes hosting social events for a number of Malawians in the diaspora. It has collaborated with Miss Africa International, the World Bank,Lions Club, University of Malawi and the Embassy of Malawi, and the peacecorps group, Friends of Malawi. As the first organization for Malawians living in the diaspora in the United states, and one of the first organizations for the Malawian diaspora in the world, it has served as a blueprint for other Malawian organizations in the Malawian diaspora to organize in Indiana, Texas, New England and in England.It has also consulted with other Malawian organizations in starting up in the Malawian Diaspora

Malawian Diaspora

The Malawian diaspora refers to the group of Malawian citizens and foreign nationals of Malawian descent who relocate—temporarily or permanently to foreign countries. There are no reliable figures on how many Malawian live abroad. Populations of Malawians can be found in the Americas, Europe,...

.

Events

MWA has held a number of cultural event in the Washington DC area that have helped to bring Malawian scholars, personalities and celebrities to the foreground. This includes events like "Sights and Sound of Malawi", and Malawi Nite" and the annual extravaganza weekend that coincides with both Malawian independence day (July 6th) and U.S. Independence day (July 4th). Past performances have included musicians Wambali Mkandawire

Wambali Mkandawire

Wambali Mkandawire is a Malawian jazz musician.He was born in the Congo to Malawian parents from the Mlowe village in the north and then later lived in Mzuzu. He wanted to become a musician but his grandparents were against the idea since he was still a student. When he dropped out of school in the...

, and Masauko Chipembere

Masauko Chipembere Jr

Masauko Chipembere is a Malawian Jazz musician. Chipembere was born in Malawi and was raised in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile. He is the son of political nationalists Henry Masauko Blasius Chipembere and Catherine Chipembere...

. It has included theatrical performances by actor Gordon Timothy.
MWA holds an annual form where items of importance to Malawi and the Malawian diaspora are discussed including healthcare in the United States, dual citizenship, gender rights, HIV/AIDS, and remittances.

Philanthropy

MWA participates in a number of philanthropic endeavors including supporting AIDS and Cancer charitable events both in the US and in Malawi. This includes raising money for Earthquake victims in Karonga

Karonga

Karonga is a township in the Karonga District in Northern Region of Malawi. Located on the western shore of Lake Nyasa, it was established as a slaving centre sometime before 1877. As of 2008 estimates, Karonga has a population of 42,555.-History:...

's 2009 earthquake. It has also raised over $20,000 for food relief in Malawi.

Notable Guest Speakers

Malawi Washington Association has organized events bringing guest speakers and Malawian personalities from diverse political and ethnic backgrounds to speak at special events and MWA events. In 2004, it organized an event for President Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika

Bingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...

 to address the Malawian Diaspora in Malawi. Other notable guests have included Malawian Minister of Tourism and Finance Ken Lipenga

Ken Lipenga

Dr. Ken Lipenga was born on February 14th, 1952 at in Chiringa, Phalombe. He is a Malawian politician, journalist, and writer. He is the current Minister of Tourism and Parliamentarian for Phalombe East.. He is the current Minister of Finance in Malawi....

, radio personality Mwiza Munthali

Mwiza Munthali

Mwiza Munthali is a Malawian born activist and the host of Washington DC based Pacifica radio show "Africa Now". Africa Now is a radio show that discusses topical issues pertinent to Africans and the African diaspora in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin americaNew Page and African-American...

, actor Michael Usi

Michael Usi

Michael Usi ia a Malawian movie actor, playwright, and musician. As an actor, he is most famously known for his role as "Dr. Manga" in the film Dr. Manga. He is also the director of the MBC TV series Tikuferanji .-Personal life:He attended Mulanje Secondary School...

, amongst others.

Past Presidents

• Eddie Naming'ona (2008–present)
• Viola Kamkwalala
• Alexander Chanthunya
• Elisa Munthali
• Nelson Kanthula
• Mwiza Munthali
  Mwiza Munthali
  Mwiza Munthali is a Malawian born activist and the host of Washington DC based Pacifica radio show "Africa Now". Africa Now is a radio show that discusses topical issues pertinent to Africans and the African diaspora in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin americaNew Page and African-American...
  
  

Also See

• Malawian Diaspora
  Malawian Diaspora
  The Malawian diaspora refers to the group of Malawian citizens and foreign nationals of Malawian descent who relocate—temporarily or permanently to foreign countries. There are no reliable figures on how many Malawian live abroad. Populations of Malawians can be found in the Americas, Europe,...
  
  
• Malawi - US relations
• African Immigration to the United States
  African immigration to the United States
  African immigration to the United States refers to the group of recent immigrants to the United States who are nationals of Africa. The term African in the scope of this article refers to geographical or national origins rather than racial affiliation....