Malawi National Anthem

Mulungu dalitsa Malawi

God Bless Malawi

Written 1964

Adopted 1964

Lyrics Michael-Fredrick Paul Sauka

Music Michael-Fredrick Paul Sauka

✝ God / Faith 🤝 Unity 🕊 Freedom 🌿 Nature ☮ Peace | Prayerful

Key Facts

1. Michael-Fredrick Paul Sauka wrote both the lyrics and the music for the anthem
2. The anthem specifically asks God to defeat hunger, disease, and envy, reflecting the practical challenges facing the young nation at independence
3. Sauka died in poverty in 1990 and was buried at Limbe Cathedral in Blantyre; his grave had no proper tombstone until 2011, when one was put up bearing the Chichewa words of the anthem

Malawi National Anthem Lyrics

Mlungu dalitsani Malaŵi, Mumsunge m'mtendere. Gonjetsani adani onse, Njala, nthenda, nsanje. Lunzitsani mitima yathu, Kuti tisaope. Mdalitse Mtsogoleri nafe, Ndi Mayi Malaŵi. Malaŵi ndziko lokongola, La chonde ndi ufulu, Nyanja ndi mphepo ya m'mapiri, Ndithudi tadala. Zigwa, mapiri, nthaka, dzinthu, N'mphatso zaulere. Nkhalango, madambo abwino. Ngwokoma Malaŵi. O Ufulu tigwirizane, Kukweza Malaŵi. Ndi chikondi, khama, kumvera, Timutumikire. Pa nkhondo nkana pa mtendere, Cholinga n'chimodzi. Mayi, bambo, tidzipereke, Pokweza Malaŵi.

Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals

Analysis

Editorial

Written and composed by Michael-Fredrick Paul Sauka, the anthem won a competition held in the run-up to independence and was adopted in February 1964, a few months before Malawi became independent from Britain. The anthem is a prayerful call for peace, unity, and freedom from hardship. It is sung in Chichewa, the most widely spoken language in Malawi.