Lessons from Lake Malawi: Fisheries Governance in the Colonial Era
The launch of a new pop-up exhibition explored the hidden history and complex legacies of colonial-era fisheries in Lake Malawi. The exhibition examined how two distinct fisheries management systems developed in parallel during the mid-twentieth century—one led by the colonial government and another by Senior Chief Makanjira at Mbenji Island.
The special afternoon featured a roundtable discussion and reception with members of the research team.
A Special Thank You to the David Livingstone Birthplace Centre.
We’re delighted to share that the David Livingstone Birthplace Centre generously offered a free guided tours exclusively for SMP members. This was a fantastic opportunity to explore the legacy of one of Scotland’s most iconic figures and deepen the understanding of our shared history with Malawi.
Speakers
Mzuzu University (Malawi):
Prof Bryson Nkhoma is a Professor of Environmental and Agricultural History as well as the departmental coordinator for postgraduate studies in History and Heritage Studies with expertise in precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial interventions related to agriculture, irrigation, food security, and Indigenous knowledge.
Dr. Wellman Kondowe is a senior lecturer in African Languages & Linguistics. He is also the current Lead Author in the National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) project focusing on the Indigenous & Local Knowledge Systems (ILK) for Terrestrial, Wetlands and Aquatic Ecosystems.University of Strathclyde (Scotland):Prof Tracy Morse is a Professor of Environmental Health who was previously based in Malawi for 20 years where she led an interdisciplinary team addressing the determinants of health.
University of Strathclyde (Scotland):
Prof Tracy Morse is a Professor of Environmental Health who was previously based in Malawi for 20 years where she led an interdisciplinary team addressing the determinants of health.
Dr Charles Knapp is a Reader in Environmental Science and a water-quality environmental scientist with expertise in ecology and genetic analyses to explain trends in a historical context.
Dr David Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in History who was Principal Investigator of the “Lessons of Lake Malawi” project and who curated the exhibition. His expertise centres on histories of colonialism, law, environmental science, and maritime activities from the early modern to the modern period.
Recorded Video
Missed the event? Please find the recording and the time stamps here.
00:00 Welcome remarks, Nasim Vadalia- Comms SMP
01:05 Opening remarks, Prof Tracy Morse - University of Strathclyde
08:19 Introduction, Dr David Wilson - University of Strathclyde
16:07 Mbenjie Island history, Prof Bryson Nkhoma - Mzuzu University
24:54 Research findings, Dr Charles Knapp - Mzuzu University
34:28 Related study, Dr Wellman Kondowe - Mzuzu University
47:10 Further recommendations, Dr David Wilson - University of Strathclyde
52:35 Q & A
1:19:45 Closing remarks Prof Tracy Morse
