This article covers cultural relations between India and Malawi, scholarships and academic links, and the Indian community in Malawi. It is based on the MEA brief of April 2026, the bilateral brief published by India's Ministry of External Affairs.

Cultural activities of the High Commission

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, the High Commission of India, in coordination with the Indian diaspora in Malawi, celebrates most prominent Indian festivals and invites members of the diplomatic corps and local Malawians. It also holds events focused on individual Indian states, covering their culture, language, traditions, music, tourism and cuisine, and publicises Indian cultural events through its social media handles.

Events recorded in the brief include:

  • Diwali on 28 October 2025, with Dr. George Chaponda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as Guest of Honour. It was attended by Malawian government dignitaries, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and officials of UN and international organisations.
  • The States Day of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab and Kerala on 1 November 2025, with stalls on culture, arts and tourism to promote "Incredible India" and cultural performances by diaspora associations from those states.
  • Holi at India House on 14 March 2026, attended by approx 200 people, including members of the diplomatic corps, the Indian diaspora, local dignitaries and social media influencers.
  • An "India Dialogue" in Zomba, organised with the University of Malawi (UNIMA). According to the brief, it focused on India's role in the Global South, including Africa, and its economic path to become a developed nation by 2047.

Cultural troupes

The High Commission periodically arranges visits by ICCR cultural troupes to Malawi and by Malawian cultural troupes to the Surajkund Mela in Faridabad, Haryana.

  • ICCR cultural troupes visited Malawi in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2025. The most recent visit recorded in the brief was by a 10 member Rajasthani folk dance troupe, from 27-30 October 2025.
  • Malawian cultural dance troupes regularly take part in the Surajkund Mela. According to the brief, a 17 member Malawian troupe participated from 31 January to 16 February.

Scholarships

For 2026-27, India offered 30 scholarships under the ICCR's India-Africa Maitri scholarship Scheme to Malawian students for higher studies in India.

The brief states that more than 100 students from Malawi have pursued higher education at Indian universities under the Africa Scholarship Scheme and the India-Africa Forum Summit Training programme. It names former President of Malawi Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika and Dr George Chaponda, described as the current Foreign Minister, as notable alumni of ICCR's scholarship.

India Chair at the University of Malawi

In September 2025, the High Commissioner of India and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi signed an MoU to establish an India Chair, supported by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), at the University of Malawi in Zomba. The brief states that Prof. Tej Pratap Singh, ICCR Chair, was expected to join the University soon.

The Indian community in Malawi

The brief states that, although diplomatic relations were established in 1964, people-to-people ties between India and Malawi span over 140 years.

As of April 2026, Malawi hosts an Indian diaspora of about 17,500, including 8,500 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), the majority of them from Gujarat. The number of Indian nationals (NRIs) is about 9,000. Most of them come from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the brief, community members are mainly engaged in trading, agriculture and agro-business, pharmaceuticals and hospitality, with a few professionals. The brief describes them as well integrated and contributing to Malawi's economic growth.

In 2025, Mr Krishna Sawjani, an Indian-origin lawyer, received the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award (PBSA).

Community associations and diaspora events

There are about 15 Indian community associations in Malawi. The High Commission keeps regular contact with them, shares important information for the diaspora through them, and invites their members to its official events, including those related to India's development partnership initiatives in Malawi.

On 26 February 2026, the High Commission organised a diaspora event on the theme "Role of Indian Diaspora in Amrit Kaal". It was attended by approx 120 members of the Indian community, who shared ideas on the diaspora's role in India's growth and its aim to become a developed nation by 2047.