On June 11, 1964, Malawi’s path to independence was formalized with the swearing-in of its first African prime minister, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Though formal independence day is July 6, this date marked a crucial transfer of power. Banda had been a prominent Pan-Africanist and led Malawi’s transition from the British-controlled Nyasaland protectorate. His leadership was pivotal in shaping a new African identity post-colonialism. Malawi’s journey reflected the broader wave of decolonization sweeping the continent in the 1960s, as nations asserted sovereignty and sought to rebuild their societies after centuries of exploitation.
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