Cape Verde Independence Day

 

Independence Day is a public holiday in Cape Verde, observed on July 5th each year.

This is the National Day of Cape Verde and commemorates the country's independence from Portugal on this day in 1975.

History of Independence Day

Cape Verde is an island country consisting of 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Northwest Africa.

The islands were uninhabited when they were discovered by Portuguese navigators in the middle of the 15th century. Portuguese settlers arrived in 1462, establishing the first permanent European settlement in the tropics.

The islands benefited from their position, first as a stopping off point for the Atlantic slave trade and then as a location for re-supplying ships bound for the Americas.

The call for nationalism had grown louder after the end of the second world war. So much so that in 1951, Portugal changed Cape Verde's status from a colony to an overseas province to try and reduce the increasing disenfranchisement with colonial rule.

The nationalist movement in Cape Verde was entwined with the other Portuguese territory in the area, Portuguese Guinea. In 1956, Amílcar Cabral, a Guinean organized the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). The aims of the PAIGC were to improve the economic, social and political conditions in Cape Verde and Portuguese Guinea and formed the basis of the two nations' independence movements.

These demands erupted into a war on the African mainland, with Portuguese Guinea declaring independence in 1973.

The April 1974 revolution in Portugal led to change of approach to its overseas territories, and in 1974 the PAIGC and Portugal signed an agreement providing for a transitional government composed of Portuguese and Cape Verdeans. On June 30th 1975, Cape Verdeans elected a National Assembly which received the instruments of independence from Portugal on July 5th 1975.

 

World Badminton Day

 

World Badminton Day, held on July 5th each year is an eagerly anticipated event for passionate badminton enthusiasts worldwide. It pays homage to its journey through the years, while embodying its unrelenting spirit in this annual gathering. Furthermore, it showcases how practicing badminton can catalyze personal growth and positively transform both communities and nations alike.

On July 5th,1934 the International Badminton Federation (IBF) was founded marking a historical moment for world badminton and inclusive badminton activities. Thus, World Badminton Day was inaugurated, to commemorate this momentous occasion. Originally known as the IBF, this unified governing body of badminton sport worldwide, was established by nine founding member nations.

World Badminton Day signifies not only a celebration but it showcases the essential values ingrained in badminton. It emphasizes inclusivity that promotes global badminton culture, collaboration and elevates development at all levels. This day acts as a catalyst in promoting awareness about badminton. We witness diverse age groups and backgrounds come together to celebrate. This includes players, athletes and enthusiasts who have driven badmintons' success to become one of the most compelling sports of modern history.

World Badminton Day collaboratively develops events with vibrant themes that encompasses culture, music and food. This helps to broaden its network and enrich the platform appropriately.  It provides players globally with a sense of camaraderie fostering unity- a bond irrefutable by geographical borders. This occasion transcends limitations and unites people from diverse backgrounds through their mutual admiration for badminton.