2020-09-17 Thu

National Heroes' Day is one of the public holidays in Angola. It is celebrated on September 17 to commemorate the birthday of Agostinho Neto, a prominent leader in the Angolan War of Independence and the first President of Angola.

António Agostinho Neto was born on 17th September 1922. Neto became president of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). After over a decade of the struggle for independence, Angola declared its independence from Portugal in 1975. Neto became the country's first president, establishing a one-party state. He died four years later while undergoing surgery for cancer.

Angola's National Heroes' Day honours Neto and all those who lost their lives in the struggle for the independence of Angola. In the year 1977, Bank of Angola issued a 100 Kwanzas banknote to honour the first president of the country.

The banknote depicts the portrait of the president on the obverse along with a drawing symbolizing tribal ritual ceremony or conflict. The reverse depicts Coat of arms of Angola and Textile factory workers.

Image Courtesy: banknotes.com