Ntcheu District – Highland land of the Maseko Ngoni
Ntcheu District, in Malawi's Central Region on the border with Mozambique, is closely linked to the Maseko Ngoni, who settled in these highlands in the nineteenth century and whose traditional leadership and ceremonies remain important to local identity. Its position halfway between Blantyre and Lilongwe has long made it a crossroads for travellers and traders.
The district headquarters, known locally as the Boma, is commonly called Mphate. Today Ntcheu covers 3,424 km² and, according to the 2018 census, has around 660,000 inhabitants, most of whom live from farming in the cool uplands. Do you have stories or photos from Ntcheu? Share them with our community!