Nyasaland was part of a political federation with Northern Rhodesia and Southern Rhodesia from 1953. Federation was not favoured by the majority of the people of Nyasaland.

 Hastings Banda addressing a crowd

Image: National Archives of Malawi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Nyasaland African Congress under the leadership of Hastings Banda pushed for an independent Nyasaland. The NAC was rechristened the Malawi Congress Party and would go on to contest elections in 1961. Victory in the elections and formation of a government under Prime Minister Banda was the last stage before outright independence on 6 July 1964.