Today, July 6th is Malawi's Republic Day.
From the late 19th century until independence, Malawi was a British protectorate called Nyasaland. Today in 1964 they declared their independence from the British, and 2 years later became the Republic of Malawi.
During the reign of the 1st President- his Excellency, the Life President Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Republic Day was celebrated with huge functions all over the country (mandatory attendance). For the past 10 years, however, the celebrations have been abolished and this year is the first time in 10 years that Malawians have been encouraged to celebrate this special day. Word is that those not politically aligned with the current ruling party won't be welcomed (ie there are no major celebrations planned in our district) but hey- we get a public holiday tomorrow!
The Malawi flag features a black stripe that represents the people of Africa. The color red stands for the blood spilt in Malawi's struggle for independence; while the color green symbolizes the country's vegetation. The rising sun represents the dawn of freedom and hope on the African continent.
image used from http://flagspot.net/flags/mw.html, flag explanation from http://www.worldflags101.com/m/malawi-flag.aspx
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