Jul 17, 2025 | written by: Tommaso Ciuffoletti
The time of rituals, the time of the earth: Malawi, the Chewa and the dream that grows with Treedom
All the photos accompanying this article were taken by our videomaker Riccardo Grando during our latest trip to Malawi
Tutte le foto a corredo di questo articolo sono state scattate dal nostro videomaker Riccardo Grando, durante il nostro ultimo viaggio in Malawi
In the heart of eastern Africa, where the August wind lifts red dust and the sky seems to hang in an ancient, patient wait, lives the Chewa people. It is precisely in this month that their masks carve mysterious dances into the air: the Gule Wamkulu, the “great dance,” an age-old ritual celebrating the connection between the community, the ancestors and the land.
It’s no coincidence that all this happens at the end of the dry season, when nature appears harsh and bare: it’s the moment when hope takes the form of song, the beat of drums and the masks themselves. Because soon, with the coming rains, the earth will return to life.
In Malawi, where agriculture is not just an economic sector but the backbone of culture itself, the Chewa rituals tell an ancient story: nature is not a mere backdrop, but a living presence to be listened to, respected, invoked. The Nyau masks – carved from wood and decorated with plant fibres and colourful fabrics – are not only art, but spirits dancing to ask for protection for the crops, fertility for the land and rain for the fields. Among the most emblematic is the Kasiyamaliro mask, representing the Great Mother, the very symbol of the earth’s fertile womb, and the large animal masks embodying the strength of nature.
The farming calendar sets the village’s pace: August marks the last edge of the dry season, September brings the beginning of the rains and the hope of a new sowing. In this eternal cycle, the dances of the Gule Wamkulu are more than a ritual: they are a collective act of faith in the land itself. Those who take part or watch feel that what is being celebrated is not only the harvest, but the bond between the community and the environment that sustains it.
It is in this context – where agriculture means food, future and identity – that Treedom’s work finds even deeper meaning. Planting trees in Malawi is not just an act of environmental compensation: it is a gesture that weaves together culture, economy and hope.
Thanks to Treedom’s projects, local farmers receive training and support to plant and care for trees, which become a source of fruit, firewood and new economic opportunities. A concrete action that strengthens food security for families and helps combat soil erosion, preserving the extraordinary biodiversity of a land that hosts forests, savannahs and unique lake landscapes.
Malawi is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, and at the same time one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The rainy season may come late or be too intense; drought can ruin entire harvests. In this delicate balance, every tree planted becomes a promise of resilience: it offers shade and moisture to the soil, helps regulate the local microclimate, and supports entire ecosystems.
At the same time, planting trees means strengthening a rural economy that still today has a deeply communal face. Just like in the Gule Wamkulu rituals, Treedom’s projects also hold a collective spirit: you don’t plant only for yourself, but for future generations, for the village, for the land that feeds everyone. And so, the modern act of gifting or planting a tree ideally speaks to those ancient dances that call for rain and prosperity.
Across Malawi’s countryside, the echo of Chewa drums and the sprouting of a new tree tell the same story: of a people who endure, hope and cultivate life, season after season.
And it is precisely here that Treedom’s work becomes even more precious: because it doesn’t just bring trees, it sows trust in a future where humans and nature are not rivals, but fellow travellers.
In a world where everything seems to accelerate, the Chewa continue to dance to the slow, powerful rhythm of the earth, reminding us that the best fruits always need time, care and respect. And Treedom, by planting trees together with local communities, gathers and renews this lesson every day: that true growth is never only material, but always begins with a shared dream.
If you’d like to plant your tree in Malawi, now is the perfect time.
