2020-01-20 Mon

National Heroes' Day is a public holiday in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde on 20th January. The holiday in both nations marks those who have contributed to nationhood. This day marks the death anniversary of Amilcar Cabral.

Amilcar Lopes da Costa Cabral was a Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, intellectual, poet, theoretician, revolutionary, political organizer, nationalist and diplomat. He was one of Africa's foremost anti-colonial leaders. Cabral led the nationalist movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and the ensuing war of independence in Guinea-Bissau. He was assassinated on 20 January 1973, about eight months before Guinea-Bissau's unilateral declaration of independence. Cape Verde followed with independence in July 1975.

The two countries chose 20th January as their National Heroes' Day because it falls on the anniversary of Cabral's death and although the day is to honour all national heroes, choosing this date is a fitting way to celebrate and commemorate the life of an important figure in the independence of both countries.

The banknotes of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau honour Amilcar Cabral by depicting his portrait on them. Today we are looking at a 1000 Pesos banknote that was issued in 1993. The note specifications are as follows:

Obverse: Man weaving a cloth sash known as “a pano de banda” to left; and portrait of Amilcar Lopes Cabral to right.
Reverse: Nudes in allegory “Apoteose ao Triunfo” (Glorification of Triumph), celebrating victory in the struggle for liberation to left. This note has the portrait of Amilcar Cabral as its watermark.

Image Courtesy: Banknote World