Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, and it is observed on January 20 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when the independence leader Amilcar Cabral was assassinated on January 20, 1973.
Amilcar Cabral was born on September 12, 1924, in Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau, and got an education in Cape Verde. He started the student movements while he was a student, promoting independence from the Portuguese.
In 1956, he founded the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and hoped for a peaceful campaign for independence; however, it turned to armed conflict in the 1960s.
In January 1963, the guerrillas from the PAIGC attacked the Portuguese garrison, which was the start of the Independent War. Cabral led the PAIGC's guerrilla movement against the Portuguese government for the next 10 years. He strategically sustained the good relationships between his troops and the local population and made it one of the most successful wars of independence in Africa.
Cabral started to form a People's Assembly in preparation for the independence of Guinea-Bissau in 1972; however, he was assassinated on January 20, 1973.
The following is the list of Heroes' Day in Guinea-Bissau from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Heroes' Day | Jan 20, 2022 | Thursday |
| Heroes' Day | Jan 20, 2023 | Friday |
| Heroes' Day | Jan 20, 2024 | Saturday |
| Heroes' Day | Jan 20, 2025 | Monday |
| Heroes' Day | Jan 20, 2026 | Tuesday |
Please check more public holidays in Guinea-Bissau: