AFRAUSN

Cultural Calendar

Dates that matter to African-Australian community life

African national days, religious observances, cultural celebrations, and Australian community dates. A single source so embassies, councils, schools, and journalists can plan around what the community is observing.

AllNational dayReligiousCulturalCommunityAwarenessOther

37 dates

January

  • 1

    Jan

    Sudan Independence Day

    National daySudan

    Marks Sudan's independence from joint Anglo-Egyptian rule in 1956.

  • 7

    Jan

    Ethiopia Christmas (Genna)

    ReligiousEthiopia

    Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas.

  • 7

    Jan

    Coptic Christmas

    ReligiousEgypt

    Coptic Orthodox Christmas.

  • 19

    Jan

    Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany)

    ReligiousEthiopia

    Ethiopian Orthodox celebration.

February

  • 17

    Feb

    to 18 Mar

    Ramadan begins

    Religious

    Beginning of the Islamic holy month of fasting (approximate — confirmed by lunar sighting).

    Dates approximate; depend on lunar sighting

March

  • 1

    Mar

    to 31 Mar

    Multicultural Month — NSW

    CommunityAustralia

    NSW state observance.

  • 6

    Mar

    Ghana Independence Day

    National dayGhana

    Independence from the UK in 1957.

  • 12

    Mar

    Mauritius Independence Day

    National dayMauritius

    Independence from the UK in 1968.

  • 19

    Mar

    Eid al-Fitr

    Religious

    End of Ramadan celebration.

    Date approximate; depends on lunar sighting

  • 21

    Mar

    Harmony Day (Australia)

    CommunityAustralia

    Celebrates Australia's cultural diversity.

  • 21

    Mar

    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

    Awareness

April

  • 4

    Apr

    Senegal Independence Day

    National daySenegal

    Independence from France in 1960.

  • 12

    Apr

    Coptic Easter

    ReligiousEgypt

    Coptic Orthodox Easter.

    Date varies year to year

  • 18

    Apr

    Zimbabwe Independence Day

    National dayZimbabwe

    Independence from the UK in 1980.

  • 26

    Apr

    Tanzania Union Day

    National dayTanzania

    Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (1964).

  • 27

    Apr

    Sierra Leone Independence Day

    National daySierra Leone

    Independence from the UK in 1961.

  • 27

    Apr

    South Africa Freedom Day

    National daySouth Africa

    Marks the first post-apartheid democratic elections in 1994.

May

  • 20

    May

    Cameroon Unity Day

    National dayCameroon

    Marks the reunification of British and French Cameroons.

  • 24

    May

    Eritrea Independence Day

    National dayEritrea

    Independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

  • 25

    May

    Africa Day

    CulturalPan-African

    Annual commemoration of the founding of the OAU/AU. Celebrated across Africa and diaspora.

  • 26

    May

    Eid al-Adha

    Religious

    Feast of Sacrifice.

    Date approximate; depends on lunar sighting

June

  • 1

    Jun

    Kenya Madaraka Day

    National dayKenya

    Marks Kenya's attainment of internal self-rule in 1963.

  • 14

    Jun

    to 20 June

    Refugee Week (Australia)

    CommunityAustralia

    Annual community-led celebration of refugee contributions.

    Dates may shift; check with Refugee Council of Australia.

  • 20

    Jun

    World Refugee Day

    Awareness

  • 30

    Jun

    DRC Independence Day

    National dayDemocratic Republic of the Congo

    Independence from Belgium in 1960.

July

  • 1

    Jul

    Rwanda Independence Day

    National dayRwanda

    Independence from Belgium in 1962.

  • 1

    Jul

    Somalia Independence Day

    National daySomalia

    Union and independence in 1960.

  • 1

    Jul

    Burundi Independence Day

    National dayBurundi

    Independence from Belgium in 1962.

  • 9

    Jul

    South Sudan Independence Day

    National daySouth Sudan

    Independence from Sudan in 2011.

  • 23

    Jul

    Egypt Revolution Day

    National dayEgypt

    Marks the 1952 revolution.

August

  • 7

    Aug

    Cote d'Ivoire Independence Day

    National dayCote d'Ivoire

    Independence from France in 1960.

  • 17

    Aug

    to 23 Aug

    African Australian Excellence Week

    CommunityAustralia

    Sector-led celebration of African-Australian achievement.

    Dates indicative; check sector announcements.

September

  • 24

    Sept

    South Africa Heritage Day

    CulturalSouth Africa

    Celebrates cultural diversity of South Africans.

October

  • 1

    Oct

    Nigeria Independence Day

    National dayNigeria

    Independence from the UK in 1960.

  • 9

    Oct

    Uganda Independence Day

    National dayUganda

    Independence from the UK in 1962.

November

  • 20

    Nov

    Africa Industrialization Day

    AwarenessPan-African

December

  • 12

    Dec

    Kenya Jamhuri Day

    National dayKenya

    Republic Day — full independence from the UK in 1964.

Missing a date? Date wrong?

Religious dates that depend on lunar sighting (Ramadan, Eid) are best confirmed by the relevant authority each year. If a date here is wrong or missing — particularly for your country or community — email info@malakfoundation.org and we’ll update it.