Madonna Puts Malawi on the Map

Madonna has discovered Malawi. The "Material Girl" has decided to raise money to fund development programs in this poor African nation. Madonna's motives for focusing on Malawi probably include self-publicity, but as the chief of a village who will benefit from a substantial amount of it says to a TIME magazine reporter, "We can only ask God to bless this person for her kindness". As I mentioned before on this site, I don't care why celebrities give to Africa, as long as they keep on giving.

Personally I'm thrilled Madonna has put Malawi on the map. I spent 11 years in Malawi and have grown tired of explaining to people that it is indeed a country, nestled between Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. Malawi is probably the poorest country in the world that is not war-torn, and it's been that way for most of its history as an independent nation (since 1964).

With Madonna and the rest of the world focusing on the AIDS, malaria, and poverty in Malawi, I'd like to encourage you to visit the country and look at the positive things it has to offer. There are plenty of wildlife parks, fantastic mountains to hike up, and best of all a huge fresh water lake (Lake Malawi) that takes up a third of the country and is lined with golden, sandy beaches. Malawians are extremely friendly, which is the reason the country is often referred to as the "Warm Heart of Africa". So if you don't have a few million dollars lying around to donate to orphanages, you can still boost the local economy and take a safari in Malawi.

More about Madonna and Malawi:

• Madonna finds a Cause
• Madonna to bring more than music to Malawi
• Madonna to Help African Orphans in Malawi

News, Cape Maclear, Malawi, Image © Michael Daecher