What does Malawi mean?

Answer 1

There are two trains of thought on this:

1. The Name derives from the native word meaning 'flaming water' or 'tongues of fire' believed to have been used to describe the dazzling reflections of its huge Lake Malawi.

2. The President of Malawi from Independence 'Kamuzu Banda' got the idea of the Name from an antique French map which had a place on it labelled 'Lac Maravi' he presumably took the name Maravi and re-spelt it Malawi, even though the country already had a name 'Nyasaland', the President preferred Malawi and being the reputed Iron Fist President of a Country with no opposition to him or his government the country was re-named Malawi.