Heroes Day in Guinea-Bissau
Heroes Day falls on 20 January and is a compulsory national holiday in Guinea-Bissau. The decree names it the Day of National Heroes and Combatants for the Freedom of the Homeland, linking the date to the country’s independence history.[1][2]
A national day of remembrance
Guinea-Bissau’s national decree lists 20 January as the Day of National Heroes and Combatants for the Freedom of the Homeland. That wording honours a wider group of people connected with the country’s history, rather than naming a single individual as the holiday’s sole subject.[1]
The date is also the anniversary of Amílcar Cabral’s assassination in Conakry, Guinea, in 1973. Cabral was secretary-general of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), and the party had developed under his direction from 1956. His role in the independence movement helps explain the date’s connection to Guinea-Bissau’s national story.[2]
What the law requires
Decree No. 1/2023 makes 20 January a compulsory national holiday. It calls for the cessation of work in both the public and private sectors, except for activities that cannot be interrupted by their nature. This is a statutory work stoppage; the decree does not identify particular businesses or services that fall within the exception.[1]
No substitute day is specified when 20 January falls on a weekend, so Heroes Day remains fixed on 20 January.[1]
Commemorations and practical planning
No particular ceremony, meal or national event programme is prescribed. Ask locally about events and customs, as these can vary from place to place.[1]
Ordinary work pauses in public offices and private workplaces, except for work that cannot be interrupted. Check with individual services and businesses before making plans.[1]
Heroes Day: frequently asked questions
When is Heroes Day in Guinea-Bissau?
It is observed every year on 20 January, the date named in the national decree.[1]
Is Heroes Day a day off work?
The decree requires work to cease in public and private sectors, except for activities that cannot be interrupted by their nature.[1]
Is there a substitute day when 20 January falls on a weekend?
No substitute day is specified when 20 January falls on a weekend.[1]
Are banks, shops, and transport open?
Work must cease except for activities that cannot be interrupted by their nature. Check with individual banks, shops and transport providers before making plans.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Heroes Day in Guinea-Bissau:
- Decreto n.º 1/2023 — Feriados Nacionais Obrigatórios- República da Guiné-Bissau, Boletim Oficial
- Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–6, Documents on Africa, 1973–1976: 66. Intelligence Note RAAN–4 Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research- U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian