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AFRICA DAY

When is Africa Day in 2025?

Africa Day in 2025 is on the Sunday, 25th of May (5/25/2025).

Africa Day is on the 145th day of 2025. There are 220 days left in the year.

Africa Day Facts

  • Date: May 25, 2025
  • 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 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
MondayMonJan 01, 2024Jan 01New Year's Day
ThursdayThuMar 21, 2024Mar 21Human Rights Day
FridayFriMar 29, 2024Mar 29Good Friday
SundaySunMar 31, 2024Mar 31Easter
MondayMonApr 01, 2024Apr 01Family Day
SaturdaySatApr 27, 2024Apr 27Freedom Day
WednesdayWedMay 01, 2024May 01Workers Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25Africa Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Youth Day
MondayMonJun 17, 2024Jun 17Youth Day Holidays
ThursdayThuJul 18, 2024Jul 18Nelson Mandela's Birthday
FridayFriAug 09, 2024Aug 09National Women's Day
TuesdayTueSep 24, 2024Sep 24Heritage Day
MondayMonDec 16, 2024Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
WednesdayWedDec 25, 2024Dec 25Christmas Day
ThursdayThuDec 26, 2024Dec 26Day of Goodwill

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day