The Lake Malawi sardine, lake sardine, or usipa (Engraulicypris sardella), is an African species of freshwater fish in the family Danionidae.

[1] It grows to a maximum size of 13 cm (5.1 in) TL, though commonly they are smaller.

[6] Usipa plays a significant role in the economic livelihood for many households at Lake Malawi that rely upon fishing for income.

Usipa is mostly eaten in Malawi and Mozambique along with nsima ugali.

[7] In Malawi, usipa is typically consumed with the bones in it due to their softness.