CalEvents:Aug/Aug 4

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Notable events for Aug 4

Date
Event
Significance
August 4, 1791
Boukman Dutty's voodoo ceremony sparks Haitian Revolution
On this day, Boukman Dutty led a voodoo ceremony that is considered the spiritual spark for the Haitian Revolution. This event united enslaved Africans in Haiti and inspired one of the most successful slave revolts in history, leading to the establishment of the first Black republic.
August 4, 1960
Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) gains independence from France
On this day, Upper Volta gained independence from French colonial rule, later renaming itself Burkina Faso. The country’s independence was part of the wave of decolonization in Africa during the 1960s, leading to new political leadership under Maurice Yaméogo.
August 4, 1964
Freedom Summer workers' bodies found in Mississippi
On this day, the bodies of three civil rights workers—James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner—were found in Mississippi. They were killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan during Freedom Summer, a voter registration campaign for African-Americans. Their deaths drew national attention to racial violence in the South.
August 4, 1983
Thomas Sankara becomes president of Burkina Faso
On this day, Thomas Sankara took power in Burkina Faso through a military coup. Sankara became an iconic figure in African revolutionary politics, advocating for self-reliance, land reforms, and anti-imperialist policies that inspired Pan-African movements.
August 4, 1993
Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk awarded Liberty Medal
On this day, Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were awarded the Liberty Medal in the United States for their efforts to end apartheid in South Africa. The award recognized their leadership in steering South Africa toward a peaceful transition to democracy.
August 4, 2011
UN declares famine in Somalia
On this day, the United Nations declared a famine in southern Somalia, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa. The famine affected millions, particularly among displaced African communities, and highlighted the ongoing challenges of food security and conflict in the region.


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