Front: Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1905-1997), President of Malawi 1966-1994

Banda was born in Nyasaland (now Malawi) He was educated in the United States, and received his medical degree from Meharry Medical Collegein 1937. He practiced medicine in London after World War II. In 1958, he returned to his homeland to campaign against the federation of Nyasaland with Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia).

Nyasaland, which he led as prime minister, became independent as Malawi in 1964. Banda became president under a new constitution in 1966. Increasingly autocratic, he made himself president for life in 1971. Following antigovernment rioting and suspension of Western aid in 1992, Banda was forced to abandon one-party rule and the life presidency in 1993. In democratic elections held in 1994, he was defeated by Bakili Muluzi.

Back: University of Malawi

Front: Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1905-1997), President of Malawi 1966-1994

Back: Kamuzu International Airport

Front: Elson Bakili Muluzi (1943-), President of Malawi 1994-2004

Muluzi was elected president in May 1994, replacing then-strongman Hastings Kamuzu Banda, and was reelected in 1999. His presidency was marred by controversy and scandal, particularly due to the sale of Malawi's reserves of maize to other countries shortly before the onset of a drought, which resulted in famine throughout the country.

In 2002, he attempted to amend Malawi's constitution allowing him to run for a third term, but this was abandoned due to demonstrations against him. He stepped down after elections in May 2004, which were won by the candidate of his party, Bingu wa Mutharika.

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Front: John Chilembwe (1860-1915), a hero for Malawi independence

Chilembwe traveled to the United States in 1897. He attended Virginia Theological College, a small African-American seminary. Here Chilembwe was exposed to the works of John Brown, Booker T. Washington and other American abolitionists. He returned to Nyasaland in 1900 as an ordained Baptist minister.

Upon returning to his homeland, Chilembwe established missionary schools, which by 1912 had 1000 pupils and 800 adult students.

Chilembwe was upset by the way African workers were exploited by white plantation owners. He was also against the conscription of local men to fight for Britain in Tanzania against the Germans in World War I. On January 23, 1915 Chilembwe and 200 of his followers staged an uprising against local plantations that they considered to be oppressing African workers. When the uprising failed to gain local support, Chilembwe tried to flee but was killed by officials on February 3, 1915.

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Front: John Chilembwe (1860-1915), a hero for Malawi independence

Back: Independence Arch in Blantyre