September 21 has been a day of profound historical, political and cultural significance across Africa, marked by military campaigns, transformative leadership, and tragic events that continue to resonate on the continent.
On September 21, 1437, Portuguese forces under Prince Henry the Navigator launched an expedition to capture Tangier, Morocco.
The mission ended in disaster when the Moroccan army, commanded by the vizier Abu Zakariya Yahya al-Wattasi, surrounded the invaders, forcing their surrender.
Centuries later, on September 21, 1896, British troops under General Herbert Kitchener occupied Dongola, Sudan, as part of the Anglo-Egyptian reconquest aimed at dismantling the Mahdist state.
These military campaigns left lasting imprints on Sudanese society and colonial history in the region.
September 21 also marks the birth of key African leaders. Kwame Nkrumah, the future first president of independent Ghana and a prominent advocate for Pan-Africanism, was born in Nkroful in 1909. His life is celebrated annually on Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, reflecting his enduring influence on African unity and independence movements.
On the same date in 1953, Nelson Mandela’s “No Easy Walk to Freedom” speech was read at the African National Congress congress in the Transvaal, despite Mandela being barred from public participation.
The speech became a rallying cry for justice and the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
September 21 also marks milestones in Angolan and South African political history. José Eduardo dos Santos assumed the presidency of Angola in 1979, following the death of Agostinho Neto, and remained in power for nearly four decades. In 2008, South African President Thabo Mbeki announced his resignation under pressure from the ANC, paving the way for political shifts in the country.
Tragically, September 21, 2013, witnessed the Westgate Shopping Center attack in Nairobi, Kenya, carried out by the Al-Shabaab group. The assault killed 67 people, including Ghanaian poet and diplomat Kofi Awoonor, and injured over 175 others, leaving a profound mark on Kenya and the broader international community.
From battles and leadership to loss and remembrance, September 21 remains a day that encapsulates the triumphs, struggles, and resilience of Africa across centuries.
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