Malawi

The struggle

Nyasaland exported labour to the mines of the south and produced John Chilembwe's rising of 1915 against that system. The imposed Central African Federation with the Rhodesias from 1953 united opposition, and the 1959 emergency and detentions made Hastings Banda a national figure. Nyasaland left the federation and became independent Malawi on 6 July 1964.

Key people

• John Chilembwe

  1871–1915

  Led the 1915 rising against colonial labour and conscription

• Hastings Kamuzu Banda

  1898–1997

  Led the Malawi Congress Party; first president

• Rose Chibambo

  1928–2016

  Founded the party's women's league and was detained in 1959