John Chilembwe Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Malawi
Every 15 January is “John Chilembwe Day” in Malawi. This is a day when the earliest hero of Malawi’s independence movement is remembered. His portrait was long on the back of all Malawi currency notes and is still on the 2000 and 500 Kwacha notes.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 Jan | Mon | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2025 | 15 Jan | Wed | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2026 | 15 Jan | Thu | John Chilembwe Day |
| Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. | |||
John Chilembwe was a Baptist pastor, teacher, and missionary who trained in the U.S. but returned to his native Nyasaland, now Malawi, to serve his God and his people. He soon became embroiled in the conflict to promote the rights of African plantation workers as well as the political and social rights of Malawi’s black population.
When World War I erupted in the early 1900’s, Chilembwe organised a revolt against British colonial rule. It failed, but when Malawi finally did gain its independence in 1964, Chilembwe’s legacy was immediately looked backed to and honoured, as it still is today every 15 January.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 Jan | Sun | John Chilembwe Day |
| 16 Jan | Mon | John Chilembwe Day Holiday | |
| 2022 | 15 Jan | Sat | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2021 | 15 Jan | Fri | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2020 | 15 Jan | Wed | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2019 | 15 Jan | Tue | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2018 | 15 Jan | Mon | John Chilembwe Day |
| 2017 | 15 Jan | Sun | John Chilembwe Day |
| 16 Jan | Mon | John Chilembwe Day Holiday |