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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Malawi’s Struggle For Independence

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Malawi’s Struggle For Independence

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Malawi celebrated it 50th anniversary in 2014. After many unsuccessful attempts to win freedom for colonial rule, Malawi became an independent nation on July 4, 1964 with its own constitution, and Hastings Banda as its first president. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about Malawi’s struggle for independence.

Sources: HistoryofWorld.net, MapsofWorld.com, BBC.com, MG.co.za

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Nyasaland barely prospered in the 50 years after Britain took over

In 1893, Britain named the area that would eventually become Malawi the British Central African Protectorate. The name was changed to Nyasaland in 1907. While Cecil Rhodes was given charters to administer Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), the British government decided to take responsibility for Nyasaland. However, conflict between those who had been using the territory as a burgeoning slave trade and those looking to establish legitimate forms of trade prohibited significant growth, and work was in short supply. Many people moved to neighboring countries for employment opportunities, and Britain began to develop the view that Nyasaland could only be prosperous if it was linked more firmly with its neighbor.

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Calls for independence were strengthened after the formation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

In 1953, Britain formed the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which was comprised of present-day Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Malawi resented the move perhaps the most, as many feared the strong European culture of Rhodesia would overshadow the culture of Nyasaland, which had far fewer European inhabitants. It also precipitated the fear that the ideal of independence under black majority rule would never come to fruition.

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

The federation was meant to be self governing, but Africans couldn’t vote

The intention of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was to appease those looking for independence, while deriving the greatest economic benefit from the union, without granting any actual rights to Africans. Each territory was to retain its existing local government in order to minimize political tension, but each was at a different stage of political development. Nyasaland had no Africans on its legislative council at the time of federation, and it would be another two years before any Africans sat on the council.

SAHistory.co.za
SAHistory.co.za

A rise in world copper prices helped prolong the federation

The intended economic benefits of the federation came to fruition briefly after it was first formed. The region’s copper fields were extremely profitable as the world saw a global rise in copper prices. Despite this, increasing political unrest continued.

BlackPast.org
BlackPast.org

Hastings Banda was studying in the U.S. and U.K.

It wasn’t until Nyasaland entered the federation that Banda was motivated to return to lead the Nyasaland African Congress. Known as “the black messiah,” he denounced the federation and participated in violent clashes between the Nyasaland African Congress and the colonial power.

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Political unrest grew as other British colonies gained independence

Spurred on by other British colonies such as Ghana winning independence in 1957, Nyasaland began to push harder for its own independence. In 1959, Britain banned the Nyasaland African Congress after violent clashes and declared a state of emergency. The Nyasaland African Congress re-organized as the Malawi Congress Party.

Radaris.com
Radaris.com

In 1960, Banda attended talks in London on constitutional reform

After being arrested and serving almost a year in prison, Banda was released from Gwelo prison. He traveled to London to meet with the British government on constitutional reform in an attempt to ready himself to help lead a new independent nation.

Kwekudee-Tripdownmemorylane.Blogspot.com
Kwekudee-Tripdownmemorylane.Blogspot.com

Banda went against the grain of other African leaders of newly independent nations

When Banda assumed leadership of Malawi after its independence, he took a different path than many other African leaders. He maintained strong ties with white supremacist governments such as the apartheid regime in South Africa and Portuguese colonizers in Mozambique, and refused to cut relations with former colonial power, Britain.

YouTube.com
YouTube.com

Following independence, several Banda cabinet members resigned

Due to disagreement with his policies, several key members of Banda’s cabinet resigned. They also took issue with the autocracy that Banda established. It led to rebellion in 1965 led by two ex ministers. Though the rebellion failed, it precipitated the transformation of Malawi into a republic. Banda made himself president for life in 1971. He was president from 1966 to 1994 and died in South Africa in 1997. Some considered him a corrupt leader. Others saw him as a national and African hero.

Wikimedia.org
Wikimedia.org

Malawi adopted a new flag in 2010 to represent its evolution since independence

The red, half-rising sun on the country’s initial flag represented a fledgling country. Almost 50 years after independence, Malawi decided a new flag was in order. The new flag shows a white sun in the center of three horizontal stripes, representing a newly formed, and now complete, country. The three stripes,from top to bottom, indicate the blood of the martyrs that contributed to the country’s birth, the black of the African people, and the rolling green landscape of Malawi.