Dedza District – Home of the Chongoni rock art
Dedza District, south of Lilongwe between Mozambique and Lake Malawi, holds one of the most important cultural treasures of southern Africa: the Chongoni rock art area. Its shelters contain paintings made over many centuries, first by hunter-gatherers and later by Chewa farmers, whose traditions of the Nyau and Gule Wamkulu are still linked to these sites. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The district's highlands, with Dedza Mountain and cool forests, have long supported farming communities. Today Dedza covers 3,754 km² and has around 830,000 inhabitants, known also for its pottery. Do you have stories or photos from Dedza? Share them with our community!