- Malawian Diaspora
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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, Africa and Asia. Malawians have historically been an important supply of both skilled and unskilled labor to other countries. Malawians were a source of labor to the diamond and gold mines in Southern Africa, particularity South Africa.[1] Many Malawian health professionals have migrated to the Global North (developed nations) in search of employment.[2] The migration of skiiled labor has contributed to the brain drain that is affecting most African nations.
Contents
Malawians in Africa
Malawians are the most dispersed group in Southern Africa.[3] Large population of Malawians live in Southern African countries like Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe have a huge Malawian diaspora.[4] Malawians were a source of labors to South Africa, and this supply of labor played a crucial role in Malawi-South Africa relations. This resulted in power and clout over Southern African foreign affairs an diplomacy.[5] In Zambia president Kenneth Kaunda and Rupiah Banda were both thought to be of Malawian descent and this influenced their leadership.[6]
Malawians in the Americas
In the United States there is a population of Malawians. US based Malawian start-up shops that cater to Malawians in the diaspora now.[7] In the United state, Malawians in the diaspora have began to form cultural organizations that serve to promote Malawian culture.[8] The oldest of these being the Malawi Washington Association. African immigrants in the United States are part of the most educated group in the United States.[9][10] Out of this group Malawians rank amongst the top five countries from Africa reporting a high school diploma or more.[11][12] This means that Malawians are contributing towards development in the global North.
Malawians in Europe
Malawians in Europe largely reside in England since Malawi was a former colony of England. Many of the Malawians in the U.K are health workers, particularity doctors. In fact, there are currently more then 250 Malawian doctors in Manchester which means that there are more Malawian doctors in Manchester than in the entire country of Malawi.[13][14][15] Malawians in the U.K have managed to take interest in the politics and policies of Malawi and exert their influence in their host country. As an example, they successfully campaigned against awarding Mutharika a Food Prize by the Hunger Project (U.S based).[16] There involvement has lead to reaction from the President Bingu wa Mutharika. Mutharika has accused the diaspora at large of tarnishing the image of his government and the country to multilateral organizations.[17]
Malawians in Scotland have been finding methods to help promote development in their home country by forming an organization to provide skill exchange in Malawi called MIND.[18]
Malawian Diaspora by location
Notable Malawians in the Diaspora
- Masauko Chipembere Jr U.S based singer
- John Lwanda England based scholar, medical physician, producer, and writer
- Ray Phiri South African based Jazz musician
- James Thindwa, U.S. based labor activist
References
- ^ http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/07/22/nyasaland-enduring-influence-malawian-diaspora-zambia/
- ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1831970/
- ^ http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/07/22/nyasaland-enduring-influence-malawian-diaspora-zambia/
- ^ http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/07/22/nyasaland-enduring-influence-malawian-diaspora-zambia/
- ^ http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/07/22/nyasaland-enduring-influence-malawian-diaspora-zambia/
- ^ http://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/07/22/nyasaland-enduring-influence-malawian-diaspora-zambia/
- ^ http://www.malawivoice.com/business/a-new-way-for-malawi-diaspora-to-shop-for-loved-ones-in-malawi/
- ^ www.malawiwashginton.org
- ^ http://www.aracorporation.org/files/14._africans_most_educated.pdf
- ^ http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/a/DoesAffirmativeActionAddressIntraRacialDivides.htm
- ^ Dixon, D.(2006). Characteristics of the African Born in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. January, 2006
- ^ African immigration to the United States
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4631699.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8320781.stm
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-health-workers/health-workers-move-from-area-of-origin
- ^ http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/08/17/malawians-in-diaspora-are-desperate-crooks-%E2%80%93bingu/
- ^ http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/08/17/malawians-in-diaspora-are-desperate-crooks-%E2%80%93bingu/
- ^ http://www.diasporavolunteeringalliance.org/member/malawian-initiative-national-development-mind
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