Martyrs\’ Day (Malawi)

Martyrs\’ Day is a public holiday in Malawi, and it is observed on March 3 each year. The holiday commemorates those who were perished in the struggle to achieve independence from the British Empire, especially the uprising on March 3, 1959.

Malawi (then Nyasaland) became a British protectorate in 1889, and it was renamed Nyasaland in 1907. The independence movement started in the early 1900s. In 1915, John Chilembwe and his supporters organized the revolt against British rule, and numerous struggles happened in Nyasaland since then.

The struggles for independence were intensified in the 1950s. In 1953, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Nyasaland (now Malawi) together formed the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Hastings Banda became the leader of the Party of Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) in 1958. He started a speaking tour asking its citizens to join the party against the Federation.

The situation became serious and on March 3, 1959, the British declared a state of emergency, and the Nyasaland African Congress (NAC) was banned. Troops flew in Nyasaland to keep order. Hastings Banda and hundreds of Africans were arrested, and over 50 people were killed.

On July 6, 1964, Nyasaland declared independence from the British Empire as the Republic of Malawi. The uprising on March 3, 1959, was considered the biggest movement resulting from independence.

The following is the list of Martyrs\’ Day in Malawi from 2022 to 2026.