Malawi History: Difference between revisions

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 18:48, 20 August 2025

Malawi Wiki Topics

Malawi Beginning Research

Record Types

Malawi Background

Local Research Resources

In other languages: English | Nyanja

Malawi

History

Resources

Online Resources

Print Publications

History

The part of Africa now known as Malawi was settled by migrating Bantu groups around the 10th century. Centuries later in 1891 the area was colonised by the British. In 1953 Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, a protectorate of the United Kingdom, became a protectorate within the semi-independent Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Federation was dissolved in 1963. In 1964 the protectorate over Nyasaland was ended and Nyasaland became an independent country under Queen Elizabeth II with the new name Malawi. Two years later it became a republic.

Upon gaining independence it became a totalitarian one-party state under the presidency of Hastings Banda, who remained president until 1994. Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government headed by an elected president. Malawi's foreign policy is pro-Western and includes positive diplomatic relations with most countries and participation in several international organisations.

Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs. Although there was periodic regional conflict fueled in part by ethnic divisions in the past, by 2008 it had diminished considerably and the concept of a Malawian nationality had reemerged. [1]

Timeline

1859 - David Livingstone reached Lake Malawi and identified the Shire Highlands south of the lake as an area suitable for European settlement
1891 - The area was colonised by the British
1953 - Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, a protectorate of the United Kingdom, became a protectorate within the semi-independent Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
1963 - Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved
1964 - The protectorate over Nyasaland was ended and Nyasaland became an independent country under Queen Elizabeth II with the new name Malawi. Two years later it became a republic

Strategy

Why use histories in your research?

Learn why on the History Wiki page

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-''[[Africa]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png|go to]] [[Malawi Genealogy|Malawi]]''
+{{CountrySidebar
+|Country=Malawi
+|Name=Malawi
+|Type=Topic
+|Topic Type=Background
+|Background=History
+|Content=Acceptable
+}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[Malawi Genealogy|Malawi]]
+| link2=
+| link3=
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Malawi History|History]]
+}}
-{{Malawi-sidebar}}
+==Resources==
+===Online Resources===
+===Print Publications===
-Malawi was formerly the Nyasaland Protectorate (until 1907 it was British Central Africa). Nyasaland became a self-governing country in 1963, and in 1964 an independent member of the Commonwealth under the name of Malawi.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Southern Africa,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1998.</ref>
+==History==
+The part of Africa now known as Malawi was settled by migrating Bantu groups around the 10th century. Centuries later in 1891 the area was colonised by the British. In 1953 Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, a protectorate of the United Kingdom, became a protectorate within the semi-independent Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Federation was dissolved in 1963. In 1964 the protectorate over Nyasaland was ended and Nyasaland became an independent country under Queen Elizabeth II with the new name Malawi. Two years later it became a republic.
-== References ==
+Upon gaining independence it became a totalitarian one-party state under the presidency of Hastings Banda, who remained president until 1994. Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government headed by an elected president. Malawi's foreign policy is pro-Western and includes positive diplomatic relations with most countries and participation in several international organisations.
+Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality. There is a diverse population of native peoples, Asians and Europeans, with several languages spoken and an array of religious beliefs. Although there was periodic regional conflict fueled in part by ethnic divisions in the past, by 2008 it had diminished considerably and the concept of a Malawian nationality had reemerged.
+[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malawi]
+See also [https://www.geni.com/projects/Pioneers-and-Early-Settlers-Southern-Rhodesia-now-Zimbabwe/5802 Pioneers and Early Settlers - Southern Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe]
+==Timeline==
+- David Livingstone reached Lake Malawi and identified the Shire Highlands south of the lake as an area suitable for European settlement<br>
+- The area was colonised by the British<br>
+-  Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, a protectorate of the United Kingdom, became a protectorate within the semi-independent Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland<br>
+- Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved<br>
+- The protectorate over Nyasaland was ended and Nyasaland became an independent country under Queen Elizabeth II with the new name Malawi. Two years later it became a republic<br>
+==Strategy==
+Why use histories in your research?<br>
+*Learn why on the [[History|History Wiki page]]
+==References==
 {{reflist}}
 [[Category:Malawi]]
+[[Category:Histories]]