What is Chiperoni?

If you’re from Blantyre, you are familiar with this word. 

What is the meaning of Chiperoni?

  • It’s the name of a drizzle rain in Malawi.

Here’s an official definition by the meteorological department:

Chiperoni: Malawian name for influx of cool moist air from the south east, bringing overcast conditions with drizzle on windward slopes along the Northern lakeshore and in particular to many areas in the South of Malawi. This phenomenon can persist for up to a week but the usual duration is two to three days.

Source: Malawi Meteorological Services

There’s a mountain in Mocambique called Chiperoni or sometimes spelled Chiperone. When the winds blow the clouds over this mountain, the Shire Highlands get chiperoni weather.

Sometimes chiperoni forces a change in travel plans. The constant drizzle can turn gravel roads into a soap-like mud adventure.

It’s also used as a brand name. There used to be a blanket factory in Thyolo called Chiperoni. The factory has closed down or moved but the brand name still exists. (update 28.05.07: it seems they are still producing Chiperoni blankets).

Chiperoni is one of my favorite words. I like the sound of it. Chiperoni could also be a spicy chili snack or the name of a hot, new, hi-tech gadget. From Chip + Peperoni.

For now, it’s the new home of my Malawi blog.

I saw this sign advertising “Chiperoni blankets” in Blantyre.

chiperoni blankets available here

By nchenga

Nchenga-nchenga is my nickname. Chiperoni.ch is my online playground, scrap book, and on-going collection of bookmarks and interesting quotes. Chiperoni is a Malawian term for cold, grey, rainy weather. I am a bridge blogger somewhere between Basel and Blantyre. The opinions and comments expressed here are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in anyway. So far, this blog is free of advertising or paid articles or similar.

7 comments

  1. nchenga says:

    October 2013 newspaper article explaining effect of Chiperoni winds on weather in Malawi:

    http://timesmediamw.com/malawis-current-weather-is-due-to-chiperoni-winds/

    Archived at:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiperoni/10754321304/

    “Principal Metrological Prediction Officer at the Department of Climate Change and Metrological Services, Winston Sauti Chimwaza told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that the current weather comes about when the wind blows over the high southern parts of South Africa.

    “When wind blows over this high south east coast of South Africa, it causes cool and moist easterly winds. This results into cool weather associated with showers or drizzles in lower parts,” said Chimwaza.

    He said in such conditions of weather, there are strong winds over the lake because of the winds that also blow from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. Chimwaza said the department predicted the current weather on Thursday and Friday last week.”

  2. nchenga says:

    Hi Alex,
    Yes, I do remember… your site kept us posted on election developments.

    I’ve posted the link.

    Thanks,
    nchenga

  3. Alex Antener says:

    Hi

    You remember? You published my Malawi Election Ticker Link to the Poly Website last year.

    Check this Link about Malawi:
    https://www.linux-magazin.de/Artikel/ausgabe/2005/12/gnu/gnu.html

    regards, Alex Antener

  4. sand13w says:

    test

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.