^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Malawi

Mfuko la Malawi

by mark sensen - 27 December 1995

The correct spelling of Malawi has an accent circumflex (^) on the W.

When the first explorers arrived in what is now Malawi, they asked the inhabitants what the big lake was called. 'Nyasa' they were told. So the lake was christened Lake Nyasa - which it will not surprise you to learn means 'Lake Lake'. 'Malawi', incidentally, means 'flaming waters' - an allusion to the reflections of the setting sun on Lake Nyasa. (Ironically, it is only possible to observe this phenomenum to best advantage from the Mozambique bank of the lake.) This symbolism also appears on the Malawian flag, which features a red sun.
stuart notholt - 22 November 1995

History

The territory was defined as British Central Africa in 1890.

Josh Fruhlinger,- 13 February 1996

The Arms of the British Central Africa Protectorate were only granted in 1914 despite an unofficial design being in use since 1894 when the first Commissioner and Consul General, Mr. HH Johnston submitted his own design to the Foreign Office for approval. It was to be used on postage and revenue stamps and also in the centre of the Union Jack as the territory's flag. The Postmaster-General in London approved the use of the whole design on stamps and the Admiralty approved the crest for use on flags, but the Colonial Office did not approve of the design as territorial arms. A formal grant of arms was only made in 1914.

From 1894 therefore, the flag of the territory was a British Blue Ensign with a coffee tree in the centre of a roundel in the fly. This was from the crest of the "unoffical" arms designed by Commissioner Johnston.

The background of the roundel was three diagonal stripes of yellow, white and black (symbolising racial co-operation). The coffee tree also appeared in the centre of a Union Jack within a garland of laurel as the flag of the Commissioner.

The name of the territory was changed to Nyasaland in 1907.

by Bruce Berry - 19 June 1998

On 11 May 1914 a formal grant of arms to Nyasaland was made. This comprised a leopard with a rising sun reflected against a black background. Coffee, having not lived up to its expectations as the major crop in the colony, was thus dropped as the main symbol of the territory.

Following this grant of Arms, a new flag bearing the leopard and sun was adopted as the flag of the territory. The Nyasaland Blue Ensign contained the arms in the fly (without roundel) and was used until 23 October 1953 when the territory was incorporated into the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the Federation flag was adopted.

Following the break-up of the Federation on 31 December 1963, Nyasaland received its independence as the Republic of Malawi on 6 July 1964 and adopted a new flag without any colonial connotations.

Please note spelling of Nyasaland (one 's' only).
Bruce Berry - 14 October 1997

According to an article (from Africa News Network) quoted by Jan Oskar Engene (on 27 January 1999), the current red and green colours of the flag represent martyrs of Africa and Africa's green vegetation, respectively, while black means Africa is black.

Panafrican News Agency (PANA) mentions (30 December 1998), that the red in the current flag stands for blood Malawians shed during their struggle for independence, the black for black race and the green represents the country's landscape.
Mark Sensen, 04 January 1999

Upcoming Flag Change?

According to an article from Panafrican News Agency (PANA) (30 December 1998) quoted by Mark Sensen, the Malawi government had plans for a change of flag. The plans were, however, put on hold in late January 1999 (according to the abovementioned article from Africa News Network).
The flag change was planned because the current flag was derived from the former flag of the main opposition (and former ruling) party, the Malawi Congress Party, except the rising sun.
The article further mentions that MCP "three years ago" [that should amount to 1995/6, Ed.] changed its flag to an all-green with a black cock in the middle of a white circle.
Mark Sensen, 04 January 1999