Africa-Press – Malawi. After missing out last year due to financial constraints, Malawi has made a strong comeback on the continental stage, finishing third in the senior category at the African Spelling Bee competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe, and earning an invitation to the 2026 World Spelling Bee in China.
The competition brought together 72 spellers from 12 African countries, making it one of the toughest contests on the continent.
Malawi was represented by six learners, three in the junior category and three in the senior category.
In the senior division, Malawi secured an impressive third-place finish through Nicole Manguluti. Rwanda claimed first place, followed by Zimbabwe in second position.
The junior category proved more competitive for Malawi, with the team failing to break into the top positions as Nigeria and South Africa dominated the rankings.
Speaking at a welcome-back event in Blantyre on Friday organised by Finca Malawi, Malawi National Spelling Bee Chief Executive Officer Louis Mbaula described the outcome as a strong result despite the stiff competition.
“The competition was very tough, but our learners performed well and were able to compete at a high level against other countries. Finishing third in Africa is a significant achievement,” he said.
Mbaula added that the results reflect the growing impact of the spelling bee programme in Malawi, particularly in improving learners’ academic performance and confidence.
Finca Malawi Marketing Officer Chiletso Wandale Nyangulu said the results demonstrate the value of investing in education.
“We are very proud that the team finished third in Africa. It shows that supporting young people and education initiatives yields meaningful results,” she said.
Nyangulu reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting education initiatives, saying the organisation will continue investing in young people and programmes like the spelling bee.
“We are committed to continuing our support towards education because we believe it is key to building a better future. Going forward, we will keep working with Malawi National Spelling Bee and other partners to create more opportunities for young people to excel and reach their full potential,” she said.
Nicole, who secured third place for Malawi in the senior category, described the competition as both enriching and life-changing, saying it gave her valuable exposure beyond the classroom.
“The experience was really good and very educational. It helped me gain exposure and understand how our fellow Africans operate. I would encourage other learners to embrace such opportunities because the spelling bee experience can help with education and even future opportunities like college,” she said.
Meanwhile, Malawi has been invited to participate in the 2026 World Spelling Bee competition in China, where it is expected to compete against top performers from across the globe in July which Mbaula has described as a major milestone for the country.
“This is a big opportunity for Malawi. It shows that our efforts are being recognised at a global level. Being invited to the World Cup Spelling Bee means Malawi is now on the international map, and we are excited about the possibility of competing against the best in the world,” he added.
He further appealed for continued support from sponsors, urging Finca Malawi to remain committed as the team prepares for the global stage.
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