Malawi
The flag of Malawi, located in the Commons Flag Court Row D5, was first adopted on July 6, 1964. The rising sun represents the dawn of hope and freedom for the continent of Africa (at the time the flag was designed, more countries in Africa were gaining independence from European rule). The black represents the indigenous people of the continent, the red symbolizes the blood of their struggle, and the green represents nature. The flag mirrors the Pan-African flag designed by Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association, with the red and black bands reversed and a red sun in the top. It also resembles the flag of the now-defunct Republic of Biafra.
Pan African flag
Republic of Biafra
In 2010, Malawi adopted a new flag, as proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party-led government, despite the fact that the idea was unpopular with much of the public. The stripes were altered from the previous flag to match the original Pan-African Flag layout, with the red stripe at the top, the black stripe in middle, and the green stripe at the bottom. The rising sun at the flag’s top was replaced with a full, centered white sun representing the economic progress Malawi has made since becoming independent. The opposition United Democratic Front announced that it would challenge the legitimacy of flag change in court. The flag was endorsed by the President of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika, who approved the flag change on July 29, 2010. The flag was pejoratively nicknamed “Bingu’s flag” by the majority of the nation who saw it as an illegitimate flag. Many objected to the new flag, perceiving its adoption as undemocratic.
Malawi, 2010-2012
On May 28, 2012, under new president Joyce Banda, Parliament voted to revert to the independence flag.
UMBC Flag Guy 