Dowa is a
district in the
Central Region of
Malawi. The capital is
Dowa. The district covers an area of 3,041 km². and has a population of 411,387. The
Chewas are the predominant ethnic group, followed by
Ngonis.
Nyau dancing is part of the culture inherited from the Chewa ancestors. These two groups are predominantly farming communities. Dowa district is an agricultural district which focuses on
cotton,
tobacco and
groundnut farming, and the main food crops produced in the district are
maize,
sweet potatoes and
pulses. People of the
Yao ethnic group are also found, mainly in the major trading centres.