History

Paradise




Salima

 Siyani was waiting at the airport and he even sent me
the note that he would be holding with my name on.
I sent him a picture of me,taken just before catching my lift to
Oliver Tambo airport in Johannesburg.

The hand written note to make sure the Mlungu for Mzanzi(Slang for South Africa)
will be identifiable. You know us whites all look the same to our African counterparts and if you believe that, the same goes with white people identifying our darker compatriots on the African Continent.
I decided to travel in my working clothes,cargo shorts and a branded T shirt and branded Cap, with sturdy walking boots.
Believe me I respected my future business partners and my attire was chosen because I am a child of Africa and I know our climate can be harsh and unforgiving at times.
The scene was set for us to meet at Lilongwe Airport,
we have been communicating and negotiating for weeks.



It was now time to formalize the talks on the internet
and for me to put my money on the table and commit to my
undertaking to buy Moringa Leaf powder from Malawi
for the first time.

Siyani wanted me to stay in a hotel but I wanted to experience
Malawi like Malawians do.Yes I went for business but I am
an incurable romantic in love with the Africa and its people.
I wanted the simple life with my feet on the ground.

The Friendly Gecko
caught my attention immediately and I started
communicating with them and I gathered all possible information on them. I knew what to expect
and I felt comfortable with it. My wife and I take our social responsibility towards our people seriously and are actively involved in South Africa.
I traveled with Aids Activists from NAPWA (The National Association of People living with Aids)
to Polokwana to the ANC conference that elected the current President, Jacob Zuma. .I slept with them in my car and in a house in a Township. I ate with them,laughed with them and cried with them.I had great respect for them. They started running in the searing heat ten kilometers before we reached Polokwane and I was the official water boy in my Navarra.
So yes I know Africa and I know its challenges and I love the youth of Africa for their resilience and determination to make a better life for all its citizens.
We were delayed at the Airport and I arrive in Lilongwe 45 minutes late. Disembarking in the
heat and queuing at customs , perspiring all the time.Looking out for Siyani who promised to deliver a car for my use while in Malawi.
I greeted Siyani with a bear hug that surprised some of my travel companions.That is how I greet people because I am a people.
The car Siyani organised for me. I would driving by myself most of the time. Siyani do not drive
and came to the Airport with a driver. The driver would drive to the outskirts of Lilongwe and I would then take over driving further to Salima, where Siyani Lives. It is a winding road to Salima and looks a lot like the Valley of a thousand hills in South Africa. There are settlements of huts dispersed all over and there are a lot of animals,so one has to drive careful,We were stopped just outside Lilongwe at a police road block and I was sweating. I showed my SA Drivers License and we were waved on.
There are a lot of these police stops and they take merely minutes to pass.


It took long to get through the parking boom on ex-sitting the Airport. It certainly is not Johannesburg with is congestion and thousands of vehicles,
and the traffic is light. procedures however is long
and African time is something to  be approached with patience or you will just frustrate yourself.
Malawi is truly a beautiful country
with wide open vistas and stunning
panoramas.
the people are friendly and a lot
of them speak English



Lilongwe Airport is small by International standards. There were only three flights on both my arrival and departure days.They have
duty free shops and you can buy with your Visa card. The rest of the country do not have facilities for foreign currency and you have to use the Local Kwatcha. I could not use their ATM machines to withdraw money, fortunately Siyani assisted me by exchanging my ZAR for local currency.

Some people demand money when you take photographs and always ask first before you take images. Most do not mind and will chat freely and are proud citizens of Malawi. It is a poor country with a hardworking productive population. They manufacture natural products like charcoal and weaved grass items,wooden and rattan furniture and locally printed cloth
This is a country where the bicycle reigns supreme. You can even catch a bicycle Taxi for a few Kwatcha. Renting vehicles is problematic and catching a taxi to Lefuwu would cost you 100 USD
one way.

Fuel is on the expensive side but freely available. This sign fascinated me  and I would have simply said Open 24/7. It dutifully states the business hours.
It is very Hot and humid and it would be wise to stock up on bottled water.If you want it cold you will have to buy at shops that have electricity.They do not sell or supply ice as we know it in the western world. There are a lot of informal stalls and market places along the road.
We Reached Salima late afternoon at Siyani's home. I met him as an acquaintance and by the time I left he was my brother and friend and business partner. The man pulled out all stops to assist me beyond expectation. He is actively involved with social responsibility programs in his community.

You want ice you buy it in blocks.
and you cannot use it in drinks as it is not purified.U use it to cool whatever you want in a container making sure you do not consume it otherwise.
It is manufactured in metal containers.
Fridges are not available everywhere. Siyani freezes small sachets of purified water and saved my day with it.
Cleaning Moringa seeds at Siyani's house. He sells seeds and also manufactures Moringa Oil. He was trained by a Dutch business partner to work and process Moringa products.
 All ATM,s do not take Visa cards. My bank FNB did not link
and I could not withdraw funds. Fortunately my friend acted as my banker and exchanged my Rands. My trip was expensive but worth
every penny I spent.
 Every house in Salima has Moringa trees.In Lefuwu they have different trees around evey homestead. people in general are not aware of the health benefits of Moringa. I am going to give Siyani access to my webpage to promote his business and will cooperate fully with him.
Salima has many Moringa trees and every house has a few surrounding it. Syani started a cooperative by buying Moringa leaves from his surrounds. He also has his own plantation. He dries ,grounds and packs the Moringa leaves himself.

Syani also partners with Jighwan OH and Seoninn CHO
a korean couple that has a Facility in Salima that does Social Upliftment work. They als o have ambulances, a feeding scheme ,classrooms and a clinic all driven from Korea. They manufacture 100% Moringa Soap that they make from Moringa oil,they source from Siyani. I shall write more on their operation later and also intend partnering with them with the help of Siyani


Siyani, myself and Seoninn with
the soap she produces from Moringa Oil.



Seoninn and rev. Jighwan Oh, Director of African Child Mission, in front of part of their Facility.
I shall write more on their facility and all the wonderful work this power couple does in Salima.
I feel doubly blessed by meeting with them and knowing they
support my friend and partner Siyani Muyola
I quote from Siyani's page.

. INTAKA EZIMBILI MORINGA OF SOUTH AFRICA AND KONDOWE COMPANY MORINGA OF MALAWI are there for you to enjoy the product and have it available at your door. God bless you all our customers.

It was getting late before I could leave fir Lifuwu village and we tried to phone Chris at the Friendly Gecko but could not get hold of him.I asked Siyani to accompany me as I feared I would get lost. It was a wise decision there are roadworks on the road to Lifuwu and it is a sandy road that is rutted with many deviations. We arrived at sunset and had to ask for directions to the Friendly Gecko. I would never have found it on my own.
Sunset in Lifuwu village

I was exhausted and Chris was happy to accommodate Siyani for the night.We had a wonderful meal prepared by their Chef. This woman can cook believe me and she is warm and friendly.All the staff at the Friendly Gecko are friendly and accommodating and extremely helpful.
Chris and the volunteers of Help2kids are fantastic people and are committed to their selfless mission to support and uplift the children and community of Lefuwu village. They do excellent work and are unassuming.

My Chalet was pleasant and fully furnished with an en suite bathroom.There was a mosquito net over the double bed and an electric Fan to give circulation in the heat.
All the windows are covered by gauze and at night you see friendly Gecko's patrolling them getting rid of mosquito's. It is safe and secure and pleasant. The staff clean every day and they have a laundry service.
There is a fridge available in the Main house to keep drinks cool and plenty purified water to keep you hydrated.

My rented Toyota in front of the chalet.

The place is beautiful with a well kept garden, tranquil and right on the beach of Leopard Bay in Lifuwu. .On my last day I ventured into the lake with two of the volunteers who offered to record the splash on my camera. Forget about the nonsense you read on the travel advisory sights about Lake Malawi and the danger of swimming in the lake.
It is shallow and you can walk in far before the water gets cooler and deeper. The temperature is pleasant and there are waves. Children frequently swim and play in the lake.
The horror stories of crime and other dangers are also excessive.If you are aware and careful you will have no problems. If you want to take pictures of people simply ask them and most of them are accommodating. Some will require payment others not.I only had one instance when a Malawian made me feel uncomfortable.
Look after your valuables. It is a poor country but the people in general are law abiding and friendly
I left my chalet unlocked most of the time I was there and never felt insecure.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and drove daily in the surrounding village. The roads are busy being upgraded so it is best to drive slowly and carefully. There are lots of animals and bicycles and ox carts on the local roads.


Fishing is a major activity in The Bay. Small surface fish are dried in the sun  and is a staple diet.
Modern boats and handmade wooden dugouts
shares the bounty of Lake Malawi.




























Dugouts at an In-ham in another village
and a larger type of fish they caught
















There are different religious groups in Malawi living in peace side by side.










A local stall with locally grown produce. The coke was warm but welcome as it is
in the middle of nowhere and I was thirsty. It cost 200 Kwatcha that equates to about R5

Girls pounding maize to make flour.

An old lady weaving mats and other items. The produce locally and then sell to markets all over Malawi.


The Help2kidsTeam and volunteers of Lifuwu had a day of celebration and I captured some images.
These people do tremendously important work in this village and is a worthy cause if you want to donate or contribute or even sponsor as they help individuals with school sponsorship's as part of their activities
I place a link to their website if you want to assist or help with funding.
http://www.help2kids.org/en/




 Cattle are not only food they are transportation
and a valuable asset.
Early morning you will find them on the beach.

 Wood is a valuable resource and locals make
charcoal that they transport for many kilometers to markets in Lilongwe and elsewhere.






Chris(Christopher Audette) my host and director of Help2kids Lifuwu



Volunteers organised and joined in a day of fun and celebration on the beach.






People are friendly and helpful in Malawi



The children of Lifuwu are helped by the Help2kids organisation
on a daily basis.




A wind pump, there are many hand-pumps in between settlements that pump potable groundwater for the vilagers.

This little boy captured my imagination playing with a bicycle Tyre on the beach.















2 comments:

  1. I enjoyed Malawi and already long to return.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi There,

    We would like to do Moringa business with Syani in Malawi.

    Do you perhaps have a contact number for him.

    We supply Dischem here in SA and would like to get supply from Syani.

    ReplyDelete