British Colonial Rule in Malawi From Shire Highlands Protectorate to Independence

In 1889, the British proclaimed a protectorate over the Shire Highlands, marking the beginning of British colonial rule in the region that is now Malawi. This protectorate was expanded in 1891 to encompass the entirety of present-day Malawi, officially designated as the British Central Africa Protectorate. The administration of this vast territory, covering approximately 94,000 square kilometers and home to between one and two million people, was managed by a limited number of officials. With an annual budget of £10,000, the administration could employ only ten European civilians, two military officers, seventy Punjabi Sikhs, and eighty-five Zanzibar porters. This small workforce was tasked with the significant responsibility of governance and law enforcement in a diverse and populous region. Notably, 1907 saw the renaming of the protectorate to Nyasaland, a title it retained until the end of British rule. This period also marked the complete cessation of slavery in the territory, reflecting a significant shift in social policies. In 1964, Nyasaland gained independence as Malawi under Prime Minister Hastings Banda, transitioning from colonial rule to self-governance and marking a new chapter in its history.