The Northern Region is one of the three administrative regions of Malawi, located in the north of the country. It covers an area of approximately 26,200 square kilometres and had a population of 2,420,440 as per the 2018 census. Its regional capital is the city of Mzuzu, which is also the third largest city in Malawi. The common language (lingua franca) of the region is Chitumbuka language which is understood by everyone and every ethnic group in the region.
Historically, the first major ethnic group to strengthen its cultural and political presence in the Northern Region were the Tumbuka people, who established themselves primarily in present-day districts of Mzimba, Rumphi, Karonga, Chitipa and parts of Nkhata Bay.