Want to know what happened Today in History Africa: 15 January? These are 2 historical events that took place today, in the continent of Africa and the African diaspora.
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This post is all about what happened Today in History Africa 15 January.
Today in History Africa: 15 January
African Holidays
John Chilembwe Day in Malawi
Today is John Chilembwe day in the Country of Malawi. It is a public holiday in the Republic celebrated annually in Malawi on 15 of January to commemorate Reverend John Chilembwe.
In January 1915, the Reverend John Chilembwe led what is now known as the first rebellion against colonial rule in Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi). Though the Chilembwe Uprising was unsuccessful, as many of its leaders were assassinated, it soon after became the catalyst for the Malawian fight for freedom and independence from British rule.
John Chilembwe studied in the United States where he became a baptist minister and got to know and understand the abolitionist movement as he built relations with American and African Independent Churches. Chilembwe’s reason for the rebellion is not completely certain but he avidly despised and codemned the laws and regulations the British colonial government imposed on Malawians. In Nyasaland, the native and rightful owners of the land were made slaves by their the colonialists; they were primarily forced to labour in plantations.
And when The First World War broke out Britain set to fight their opponent, Germany, of African soil. Many Malawians were recruited to the army as porters, living in deplorable conditions as murderous diseases grew rampant. And Chilembwe often criticized Britain for involving Malawian into a war that was not theirs to fight.
Reverend John Chilembwe is now a Malawian national hero and is still a great source of inspiration in the nation and around the world.
This post was all about what happened today in history Africa 15 January.
Today in History Africa series:
Previous Day: Today in History Africa: 14 January
Next Day: Today in History Africa: 16 January
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