CalEvents:Sep/Sep 18
From Sankofapedia
Notable events for Sep 18
Date
Event
Significance
September 18, 1906
First nonviolent protest led by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa
On this day, Mahatma Gandhi led the first Satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) movement in South Africa to protest against the Asiatic Registration Act. This event marked the beginning of Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which later influenced civil rights movements in Africa and the diaspora.
September 18, 1956
Black students barred from enrolling in the University of Alabama
On this day, Autherine Lucy, the first African-American student admitted to the University of Alabama, was prevented from enrolling due to mob violence. This event highlighted the resistance to desegregation in the southern United States and fueled the civil rights movement.
September 18, 1961
UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld dies in plane crash in Africa
On this day, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash while on a peace mission to Congo during the Congo Crisis. His death brought international attention to the conflict and underscored the global stakes involved in decolonization and African sovereignty.
September 18, 1987
Burkina Faso's Thomas Sankara delivers his last public speech
On this day, Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso, gave his final public speech before his assassination the following month. Sankara was known for his progressive policies on African self-sufficiency, anti-imperialism, and women's rights.
September 18, 1992
South Africa passes interim constitution
On this day, South Africa’s parliament passed the interim constitution, marking a crucial step toward ending apartheid and transitioning to democratic rule. The interim constitution laid the foundation for the historic 1994 elections, where Nelson Mandela became president.
September 18, 2005
United Nations mission in Sudan starts
On this day, the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) was established to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, aimed at ending Africa’s longest-running civil war.
September 18, 2017
Zimbabwe legalizes the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes
On this day, Zimbabwe became one of the first African countries to legalize the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes, marking a shift in policy that could influence other African nations in exploring similar economic opportunities.