#12. The Republic of Malawi

Out of the sight of many kilns lighting up the sky at night, courtesy of the Maravi People, "Malawi" was born to mean "Flames". The group was made of iron workers who settled along Lake Nyasa (known in Malawi as Lake Malawi) from the Congo region several centruries ago. It gives a beautiful view to smile at the setting sun on the lake. What a beautiful place!

Nestled between Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique, inland from Madagascar, is a small, elongated, densely populated country nicknamed “The Warm Heart of Africa.”?Malawi has earned its name not only from the country's warm temperatures and beautiful scenery, but also from the warm hearts of its inhabitants. Which normal person would not want to experience such a fascinating touch of life? The few people I have met from Malawi are so warm hearted and always willing to help as much as they can. It is now when I connect the dots and see the beautiful picture behind bars. By now, it is crystal clear that Africa is a land full of beautiful people both intrinsically and extrinsically regardless.

Led by His Excellency, President Lazarus Chakwera, a Malawian theologian and politician since 2020, the country is dominated by the fresh water Lake Malawi which is claimed to have the best fresh water diving in Africa, or probably the world:). Nyasaland was the name given to the territory until it was called The Republic of Malawi after independence. Nyasa is another name of Malawi.

Let us see what lies behind the glimpse of beauty and bounty of Malawi.

Brief History of the Malawi National Flag

I: The first flag flown in the area was the flag of the British Central Africa Protectorate when Malawi was under administration of the British Empire in 1893. The flag was a British blue ensign with emblem in the centre right (shown below).

II: The name was changed to the Nyasaland Protectorate in 1907 and the emblem was changed on the flag to a cheetah on a rock with a rising sun (shown below).

III: In 1953 Nyasaland joined with Rhodesia to become the self-governing British colony called The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The British blue ensign remained but the Coat of Arms changed; the cheetah was replaced with a red lion and the rock became a portion with black and white wavy lines (shown below).

IV: Nyasaland gained independence on 6th July 1964 and a new flag and name was adopted. The Malawi Cogress Party had the political dominance and it had a white sun but it was modified to make it different from the party flag and suit the whole nation. The flag of Malawi was a black-red-green horizontal tricolour with a red rising sun in the black band (shown below).

V: In 2010 the flag was modified, the colours were moved to red-black-green with a white sun in the black band, (shown below). This was the original flag of the dominating party of the country at the time of Independence in 1964.

VI: After a mass objection to the new flag the first flag of Malawi was reinstated in 2012, (shown below).

Meaning of the flag

Green: represents the ever green nature of Malawi.

Red: symbolises the blood of their struggle and that of the martyrs of independence.

Black: represents the indigenous people of the continent

Sun: has 31 rays of the sun represent the fact that Malawi was the 31st African nation at the time of its independence. The red half-sun was added to the top stripe of the national flag to also symbolize the setting of the Sun on Lake Malawi (Nyasa).

The National Anthem

Originally in Chichewa language but English translation below:

Mlungu dalitsani Mala?i

O God bless our land of Malawi; Keep it a land of peace.

Put down each and every enemy; Hunger, disease, envy.

Join together all our hearts as one; That we be free from fear.

Bless our leader, each and every one; And Mother Malawi.

Our own Malawi, this land so fair; Fertile and brave and free.

With its lakes, refreshing mountain air; How greatly blest are we.

Hills and valleys, soil so rich and rare; Give us a bounty free.

Wood and forest, plains so broad and fair; All-beauteous Malawi.

Freedom ever, let us all unite: To build up Malawi.

With our love, our zeal and loyalty; Bringing our best to her.

In time of war, or in time of peace; One purpose and one goal.

Men and women serving selflessly; In building Malawi.

"In time of war, or in time of peace, one purpose and one goal". This is one of the most powerful phrases I am absorbing this year. It means alot to take in pain to gain. A country directed by such a mindset is far from giving up. This applies to all spaces of life individually, communally, nationally and even continentally. We as Africans need that such a time as this! It is overwhelming to keep pressing on when yorks of cultures, virtual colonization and aftermath of conflicts pull us back. We still have beautiful and worth things pulling us from the front; better life for all, happier people, purpose, and better environment for the present and the future.

Cyclone Freddy has swept thousands of people and properties in Malawi two weeks ago. My heart goes out to all the victims. Such a storm still finds a resilient boat for the course. It is still a wonderful to see people doing their best to help save lives in the face of uncertainities; those are warm hearts. Disaster risks continue to frustrate humanity across the world. A fountain of many complex human-environment interactions boiling up on the planet. As a developing country, Malawi also suffers the consequences of the changing world climate.

The men and women of Malawi still work effortlessly mentally and in reality to build their country. As long as it is dreamt, it will come to pass. Our zeal and loyalty will keep us on track. It is okay to feel disappointed, but that is what makes the appointments and good news valuable. It could be a rugged path but worth taking us to the palace. All is not lost.

Dear Reader,

See you in the next country!

?Girl of the African Soil.