Cape Verde celebrates National Heroes’ Day on 20 January each year. This is one of the country’s public holidays, but what is National Heroes’ Day?

In 1924 Amílcar Lopes Cabral was born in Portuguese Guinea. He was educated in Cape Verde and Lisbon. He developed political theories concerning colonialisation and as a result he became an important person in the liberation movement in West Africa. In 1956 he founded the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). This organisation originally campaigned peacefully for independence. However, in 1963, upset by Portugal’s use of force, PAIGC commenced a military campaign, which started the war of independence. On 20 January 1973 Cabral was killed. A few months later, Guinea obtained independence and Cabral’s brother was appointed president. In July 1975, Cape Verde also achieved independence from Portugal. As a result both countries chose 20 January as National Heroes’ Day.

The Amílcar Cabral Memorial is located in Praia on the island of Santiago. On 20 January this year, the President of Cape Verde, Jose Maria Neves laid a wreath at the memorial. The country continues to pay tribute to those pioneers and heroes who fought for the country’s independence. Visitors to the island of Sal will know that the airport is named after Amílcar Cabral. Also, one of the two political parties in Cape Verde is PAICV (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde).