Nyasaland is the former name of which African country?

Nyasaland, in south-east Africa, was a British protectorate from 1907 until 6th July 1964, when it was renamed Malawi. It shares a border with Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique. It is one of the smallest countries in Africa, with Lake Malawi taking up about a third of its area.

In 1859, British explorer David Livingstone discovered Lake Malawi (then called Lake Nyasa) and declared the area a good place for Europeans to make a colony. After several missions to the area, Nyasaland was made a British protectorate.

When Malawi became an independent country, Hastings Banda (1906-1997) was made the first president. For almost 30 years, Banda ruled over a harsh government which kept Malawi out of war and turned a poor country with no access to sea or minerals, into a farming and industrial community.

Despite progress, Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Most of the population live on farms and rely on aid from other countries. Malawi has a low life expectancy and high infant mortality.