National Heroes Day 2020 and 2021 in Angola

Every 17 September is National Heroes Day in Angola. The date was chosen because it is also the birthday of Antonio Neto, Angola’s premier “founding father”.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2020	17 Sep	Thu	National Heroes Day
2021	17 Sep	Fri	National Heroes Day

Neto was a doctor, poet, and political leader. He founded the PMLA, which led in the fight for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. Neto kept the PMLA together through decades of war, including both the war for independence and a long-running civil war. Finally, he became Angola’s first president in 1975 and continued to rule until he died in 1979.

On National Heroes Day, Algerians remember President Neto and all he stood and fought for. They also remember others who lost their lives in the long years of armed conflict.