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The African peoples in Malawi are all of Bantu origin. The main ethnic groups ('tribes') are the Chewa, dominant in the central and southern parts of the country; the Yao, also found in the south; and the Tumbuka in the north. There are very small populations of Asian and European people living mainly in the cities.

The different ethnic groups in Malawi each have their own language or dialect. The Chewa are the dominant group and their language, called Chewa or Chichewa, is the common national tongue widely used throughout the country. English is the official language and is very widely spoken, particularly in main towns, but sometimes also in remote rural areas. Of the other languages spoken in Malawi, Tumbuka is spoken by about 500,000 people in the north, and Yao is spoken by about 600,000 people in the south.

Most people in Malawi are Christian, usually members of one of the Protestant churches founded by missionaries in the late 19th century. There are Muslims in the north, especially along Lake Malawi - a legacy of the Arab slave traders who operated in this area. Alongside the established religions, many Malawians also hold traditional animist beliefs.

Malawian artists who have achieved recognition for their work inside the country and abroad include Cuthy Mede (probably the best known), Kay Chirombo, Willie Nampeya and Louis Dimpwa. They work in various media, producing carvings in stone and wood, batiks and paintings.

Like most other African countries, Malawi has a rich oral tradition. Since independence, a new breed of Malawian writers has emerged. The despotic rule of Hastings Banda sent many of the country's best writers into exile until the mid-1990s. Not surprisingly, oppression, corruption and the abuse of power are common themes for many of them. Most work is written in English and nearly everything is published in English. Notable Malawian poets include Frank Chipasula and Steve Chimombo, whose most highly acclaimed work is The Rainmaker. The country's leading novelists include Legson Kayira, whose semi-autobiographical works on travelling in Africa brought acclaim in the 1970s, and Sam Mpasu, whose work (like that of several other Malawian writers) landed him in jail for a few years.

Traditional music and dance are deeply rooted in social functions in Malawi. Most tribes have their own tunes and dances. Musical instruments include drums such as the hand-held ulimba, made from gourd, and ceremonial giants carved from tree-trunks; and the mambilira, similar to the western xylophone. Various rattles and shakers called maseche are tied to dancers' legs and arms. The most notable traditional dance in Malawi is the Chewa tribe's Gule Wamkulu, which reflects indigenous beliefs in spirits and is connected to the activities of secret societies.