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AFRICA DAY

When is Africa Day in 2024?

Africa Day in 2024 is on the Saturday, 25th of May (5/25/2024).

Africa Day is on the 146th day of 2024. There are 220 days left in the year.

Africa Day Facts

  • Date: May 25, 2024
  • National
  • Also Called: African Freedom Day, African Liberation Day
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; political speeches, parades, donations, shopping, tours, symposiums
Africa Day iImage Credit: wikipedia

Africa Day commemorates the day African Union, formerly known as Organization of African Unity, was formed. Also known as African Freedom Day or African Liberation Day, this holiday is observed on 25th May every year. The day is celebrated in the US, UK, and African countries. Africa Day is also a public holiday in nine African countries that include Angola, Mauritania, Gambia, Ghana, Zambia, Namibia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, and Lesotho. The rest of the African countries observe the holiday but not as a day off for employees.

History of Africa Day

Africa Freedom Day was created during the first conference of independent African countries held in Ghana. The meeting which was held on April 15, 1958, was attended by leaders and political activists from the various independent nations. Being the first Pan African conference in the continent, eight countries honored the invitation, among them Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Sudan, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and Cameroon.

The purpose of the conference was to symbolize the African determination to free itself from the foreign domination and exploitation.

Between 1958 and 1963, the struggle for freedom intensified and 17 African countries gained independence.

On May 25th, 1963, 31 African leaders met in Addis Ababa for a summit meeting that founded the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The leaders however renamed the holiday from Africa Freedom Day to Africa Liberation Day. The observance date was also changed to May 25th.

By 1963, two-thirds of the African countries had gained independence. The summit aimed to discourage colonization and support the work of freedom fighters in countries that were still in the hands of colonizers such as Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

South Africa joined OAU in 1994 following the end of white minority rule.

In 2002, the OAU was renamed African Union (AU). The change of name was motivated by the increasingly economic rather than political challenges faced by the African continent. The headquarters of AU are located in Addis Ababa while the Pan African Parliament is in Midland, South Africa.

How to Celebrate Africa Day

Africa Day is marked with formal gatherings, parades, street marches, and political speeches. Educational institutions also hold special lectures, rallies, cultural entertainment and speeches from prominent African leaders.

In the US, the day is marked by symposiums that address political and social issues faced by the American-African communities.

You can mark Africa Day by buying local products. It’s so unfortunate that Africans are extremely obsessed with anything that originates from the West. By buying locally made food, furniture, fashion, skin care products, and artwork, we are helping Africa grow.

Another great way to celebrate Africa Day is by exploring the vast beauty and rich cultural experiences offered by the continent. Africa has many travel destination gems that will blow your mind. From watching the Big Five, the greatest Serengeti wildebeest migration to predominantly indigenous people that have a rich history. So, instead of taking a trip to Paris for the fourth time, discover the Africa continent first.

Most African countries are the third world, and therefore its citizens are poor. Celebrate this day by donating to the needy African families. You can either raise funds for the good course or donate items you no longer use. There is no better fulfillment than to know a needy child somewhere benefited from your generous heart.

Interesting Facts about Africa.

• Africa boasts of a population of over 1 billion people. This makes it the second most populous continent with Asia taking the first position

• Islam is the most dominant religion in Africa

• The most widely spoken language in Africa is Arabic

• Africa is a host to over 2000 languages

• Interestingly, over one million Chinese citizens live in Africa

• Half of the Africa population is made of young people below the age of 25

• Although Egypt is popularly known for pyramids, Sudan has the highest number of pyramids- 223 in number.

• Nigeria has the highest number of people which represents 18% of the total African population

• Madagascar is the longest island in Africa and the fourth largest in the world

• Before colonization, Africa was made up of over 10,000 states each with a different language and culture

Africa Day Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Sat
  • May 25, 2013
  • Sun
  • May 25, 2014
  • Sat
  • May 25, 2019
  • Mon
  • May 25, 2020
  • Tue
  • May 25, 2021

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of South Africa in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
TuesdayTueMar 21, 2023Mar 21Human Rights Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter
MondayMonApr 10, 2023Apr 10Family Day
ThursdayThuApr 27, 2023Apr 27Freedom Day
MondayMonMay 01, 2023May 01Workers Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25Africa Day
FridayFriJun 16, 2023Jun 16Youth Day
TuesdayTueJul 18, 2023Jul 18Nelson Mandela's Birthday
WednesdayWedAug 09, 2023Aug 09National Women's Day
SundaySunSep 24, 2023Sep 24Heritage Day
MondayMonSep 25, 2023Sep 25Heritage Day Holiday
SaturdaySatDec 16, 2023Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas Day
TuesdayTueDec 26, 2023Dec 26Day of Goodwill

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
TuesdayTueJul 11, 2023Jul 11Amazon Prime Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day