Independence Days

As we celebrate our July 4 long weekend this weekend, people in Rwanda have also been marking their annual Independence Day holiday this week. It falls every year on July 1 because on this day in 1962 Rwanda gained its full independence from Belgium. Grégoire Kayibanda became the first President of the newly independent Rwanda.

Of the four nations in Africa currently receiving (RED) money thanks to you, Ghana was actually the first to gain its independence. On 6 March 1957 the then ‘Gold Coast’, a British protectorate territory, was re-named and became Ghana. (RED)’s great friend Rocky Dawuni every year celebrates Ghana’s Indpendence Day by hosting an annual concert. This year, Rocky’s held his “Independence Splash” at Tamale in norther Ghana.

Swaziland celebrates its independence from the UK in 1968 on September 6 every year.

While Lesotho celebrates its Independence Day just four weeks later, on 4 October. It gained full independence from Britain in 1966.

So while not every country necessarily has an “Independence Day” in their calendar, it just so happens that Rwanda, Ghana, Swaziland and Lesotho do.

So Happy Independence Days past, present and future to everyone!