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📅 holiday

John Chilembwe Day

Thursday, January 15, 2026

— days to go

Every 15 January is “John Chilembwe Day” in Malawi. This is a day when the earliest hero of Malawi’s independence movement is remembered. His portrait was long on the back of all Malawi currency notes and is still on the 2000 and 500 Kwacha notes. In 2027, John Chilembwe Day falls on Friday 15 January. The holiday will be on Saturday 15 January in 2028. John Chilembwe was a Baptist pastor, teacher, and missionary who trained in the U.S. but returned to his native Nyasaland, now Malawi, to serve his God and his people. He soon became embroiled in the conflict to promote the rights of African plantation workers as well as the political and social rights of Malawi’s black population. When World War I erupted in the early 1900’s, Chilembwe organised a revolt against British colonial rule. It failed, but when Malawi finally did gain its independence in 1964, Chilembwe’s legacy was immediately looked backed to and honoured, as it still is today every 15 January.

History

This is a day when the earliest hero of Malawi’s independence movement is remembered. When World War I erupted in the early 1900’s, Chilembwe organised a revolt against British colonial rule. It failed, but when Malawi finally did gain its independence in 1964, Chilembwe’s legacy was immediately looked backed to and honoured, as it still is today every 15 January

How It's Celebrated

The holiday will be on Saturday 15 January in 2028 People observe this day with various traditional activities and customs.

Other Years

2027 Fri
15 Jan
2028 Sat
15 Jan
2026 Thu
15 Jan
2025 Wed
15 Jan

Countries

🇲🇼 MW

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