Yao people (East Africa)
Nine- to ten-year-old boys of the waYao tribe participating in circumcision and initiation rites (March 2005) | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,800,000 (2020) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Malawi | 2,321,763 (2018) |
| Tanzania | 630,000 (2017) |
| Mozambique | 450,000 (2020) |
| Languages | |
| Chiyao, Kiswahili | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bantu peoples | |
| Person | 'Myao |
|---|---|
| People | WaYao |
| Language | chiYao |
| Country | Uyao |
The Yao people are a Bantu ethnic group living at the southern end of Lake Malawi. The Yao are a predominantly Muslim-faith group of about two million, whose homelands encompass the countries of Malawi, and the north of Mozambique.