Lake Nyasa or Lake Malawi?

[NotoriousSway]

I was reading the excerpt wikipedia, some people call it lake Nyasa and some people call it lake Malawi. So I was wondering if anyone knew why in the fish trade everyone calls it lake Malawi?

Lake Nyasa or Lake Malawi?

The name of the lake itself is also disputed. Malawi claims the lake is named 'Lake Malawi' while international maps and other countries (most notably Tanzania) claim the name of the lake to be 'Lake Nyasa'. The origins of the dispute in the name have their background in geopolitical disputes that began prior to Malawi's independence in 1964, when it was previously known as Nyasaland.
Further complications emerged for different political reasons in the 1960s, when the then President Banda (of Malawi) became the only African leader to establish diplomatic relations with white South Africa. This was fiercely repudiated by other African leaders, including the then President Nyerere (of Tanzania). The contrasting attitudes and policies gave further impetus to disputes between the two governments, on the name of the lake itself, and the boundary between the two countries.
At present, the dispute between the two governments is largely dormant. Intergovernmental relations between Malawi and Tanzania are largely cordial.

 

[Pittbull]

Lake Malawi just sounds better instead of Lake Nyasa and Nyasa is just a really old school name for the lake.. hey those Lithobates are doing nicely man really coloring up..

 

[mike dunagan]

Well believe it or not the lake is still called Lake Nyasa. In fact some maps have it labeled as so. Most education video on the area as recent as late 90s call it Lake Nyasa. I was also wondering why the hobby went with the name change?

I have a theory, since Malawi had the relations with White South African (who as we all know has ties to the European powers) the hobbyiests who were for the most part in the 1960s from Europe or America would of course side with Malawi. Also did you notice that Malawi claims an island in the middle of another countries waters. Nice circle drawn around the island is Malawi waters. LOL

 

[Ash]

wow I knew they went between the 2 names but I really never knew which it was. I can see why they would still call it Nyasa it in my head would make sense. I am not really sure why we call it Malawi as the hobby goes but Mike's theory is intresting one to think about. I cant remeber what site I was on but I have seen hobbiest call their "Malawi" fish Nayasa instead. I ve also seen fish for sale before labeled as "insert fish name here"-Nayasa - Just dont see it that often.

 

[mike dunagan]

So why does everyone call their fish Malawi's? Is it because that was what you were told or what? Anyone?

 

[mahemaheman85]

So why does everyone call their fish Malawi's? Is it because that was what you were told or what? Anyone?

well its easier to say for one

 

[angeltc]

They're the same lake?!?!?!?

 

[NotoriousSway]

My theory was they might have start collecting fish on Malawi's section of the lake, so they would have called it Lake Malawi and people just continued calling it that so not to confuse people.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

if I recall correctly, Nyassa was the local word for "lake" and at some point the lake was referred to as "malawi" to avoid the old redundancy

 

[Marius]

if I recall correctly, Nyassa was the local word for "lake" and at some point the lake was referred to as "malawi" to avoid the old redundancy

Yup.