CalEvents:Aug/Aug 20
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for Aug 20
Date
Event
Significance
August 20, 1619
First Africans arrive in Virginia, USA
On this day, the first recorded group of enslaved Africans arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, marking the beginning of institutionalized slavery in what would become the United States. This event laid the foundation for centuries of African enslavement in North America.
August 20, 1940
Léopold Sédar Senghor arrested by Vichy French authorities
On this day, Léopold Sédar Senghor, a poet, politician, and future president of Senegal, was arrested by the Vichy French authorities during World War II. Senghor was a leading figure in the Negritude movement, which celebrated African culture and identity.
August 20, 1956
National Women’s Day march in South Africa
On this day, over 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest apartheid pass laws that restricted the movement of Black South Africans. The march was a pivotal moment in the struggle against apartheid, and August 20 is now commemorated as National Women’s Day in South Africa.
August 20, 1960
Senegal gains independence from France
On this day, Senegal officially gained independence from French colonial rule, with Léopold Sédar Senghor becoming the country's first president. Senegal’s independence was a crucial milestone in Africa’s decolonization process.
August 20, 1966
Start of the ANC’s armed struggle in South Africa
On this day, Umkhonto we Sizwe (the armed wing of the African National Congress) launched its first military action against South Africa’s apartheid regime, signaling the beginning of the ANC’s armed struggle for liberation.
August 20, 1983
Burkina Faso's Thomas Sankara launches socialist revolution
On this day, Thomas Sankara, leader of Burkina Faso, initiated a socialist revolution aimed at transforming the country politically, economically, and socially. Sankara’s policies focused on anti-imperialism, gender equality, and Pan-Africanism, earning him widespread admiration across the continent.
August 20, 2012
South African government establishes inquiry into Marikana Massacre
On this day, the South African government announced a formal inquiry into the Marikana Massacre, where 34 miners were killed by police during a strike. The massacre and subsequent inquiry sparked national debate over labor rights, police brutality, and inequality in post-apartheid South Africa.