2020-01-15 Wed

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland which was a British Protectorate. The Republic of Malawi celebrates John Chilembwe Day on January 15th.

John Chilembwe Day is a national holiday in Malawi that commemorates the life of an important figure in the emergence of this southeast African country's nationhood and resistance to colonialism in the early part of the 20th century.

John Chilembwe was born sometime between 1860 and 1871 in the African nation of Nyasaland, now known as Malawi. He was trained as a church minister in the United States returning home after becoming a Baptist minister. At the start of the First World War, Britain decided to use Nyasa soldiers against the Germans in East Africa. To use locals without their agreement in such a conflict proved to be a tipping point for Chilembwe's anger against the British.

Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Chilembwe organized an unsuccessful uprising against colonial rule. Today, Chilembwe is celebrated as a hero of independence, and John Chilembwe Day is observed annually on January 15 in Malawi.

Malawi issued a set of four stamps with the denominations of 3 Malawian pennies, 9 Malawian pennies, 1'6 Malawian shillings, and 3 Malawian shillings. The stamps depict a mob of protectors led by John Chilembwe in front of a Church.

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com

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