CalEvents:Oct/Oct 21
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for October 21
Date
Event
Significance
October 21, 1835
Birth of Alfred Nobel
While Alfred Nobel's legacy is often tied to the Nobel Prizes, including the Peace Prize, the African diaspora has been greatly impacted by many African and African-American figures who have won this prize. Figures like Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela have been celebrated for their contributions to peace, justice, and human rights.
October 21, 1929
Aba Women’s Riot begins in Nigeria
On this day, the Aba Women's Riot (also known as the Women's War) began. Thousands of Igbo women protested British colonial taxation policies in southeastern Nigeria, marking one of the most significant anti-colonial uprisings led by women in Africa. The event is celebrated as a powerful expression of women's resistance.
October 21, 1965
Martin Luther King Jr. awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
On this day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent resistance to racial injustice in the United States. King's award symbolized global recognition of the civil rights movement and the struggle for equality in the African-American community.
October 21, 1967
Huey P. Newton arrested
On this day, Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton was arrested following a shootout with police in Oakland, California. His arrest became a focal point for the Black Power movement, and the “Free Huey” campaign highlighted the broader fight against police brutality and racial injustice.
October 21, 1994
Julius Nyerere delivers his last major public speech
On this day, former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere gave his final major public speech at the South-South Commission meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe. Nyerere’s leadership in Pan-Africanism and his advocacy for African unity and socialism made him one of the most respected figures in Africa’s post-colonial history.
October 21, 2011
UNESCO declares Malian manuscript collections as World Heritage
On this day, UNESCO declared the ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu, Mali, as World Heritage treasures. These manuscripts, dating back centuries, are a testament to Africa’s rich intellectual and cultural history, particularly in the fields of science, law, and philosophy during the medieval period.