Mother’s day in Malawi
On this day, October 15th, it is Mother’s day in Malawi. It is the only Mother’s day in the world celebrated on this day and observed on the International day of rural Women. Malawi is among the very few countries in the world making Mother’s day a public holiday.
It is a day wrapped in love, in gratitude, in the whispers of “zikomo, mai” -thank you, mother.
Across the hills and plains, from the misty tea estates of Mulanje to the shimmering waters of Lake Malawi, the spirit of the Malawian mother beats strong, steady as the rhythm of the drum, tender as the sunrise over the Shire River.
To the Mother who wakes before dawn
She stokes the fire long before the village stirs.
Her hands, worn yet graceful, mix the nsima, sweep the yard, braid a child’s hair, all before the rooster has finished his first crow.
She carries the morning on her back, sometimes a baby, sometimes water or firewood, sometimes a burden, but always with grace.
To the Mother who teaches without words
Her wisdom is not only in books, but also in her stories under the moonlight.
In the rhythm of her laughter, in the firmness of her gaze.
She teaches patience, kindness, and resilience, the lessons that never fade.
Through her, children learn to hope even when the rains delay, to smile even when life is hard.
To the market Mother
She stands beneath the hot sun, selling tomatoes, groundnuts, and dreams.
Every kwacha she earns is a step toward a child’s school fees, a meal on the table, a better tomorrow.
Her voice rises with the songs of a thousand others, strong, proud, and unyielding.
To the modern Malawian Mother
Whether she’s in the office, -workfloor, -field, -classroom or any other workplace, she carries the same spirit of her ancestors, hardworking, nurturing, and bold.
She blends tradition with progress, motherhood with ambition. She is the bridge between the past and the promise of the future.
To every Mother in Malawi or abroad
You are the soul of this nation, the warmth in the “Warm Heart of Africa.”
Through your love, Malawi stands tall.
Through your sacrifices, we thrive.
Through your stories, we remember who we are.
Today we say, zikomo kwambiri, mai.
You are our first home, our first love, our forever song.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers who make the world gentle and strong, this day, and every day, we celebrate you!