International Day for People of African Descent is a holiday that’s observed annually on the 31st of August and promotes the contributions made by the African diaspora all around the planet. It’s a day to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent, which at the moment has been on the rise.

This is a day to honor a diverse and vivacious international community, all while respecting their basic human rights. All human beings are born with dignity, basic human rights, and freedom. And it’s up to all of us to protect those things. That is why this holiday is important and reflects the value of all of us as humans.

The History Of International Day For People Of African Descent

The International Decade for People of African Descent was launched in 2015 and ends in 2024. In 2020, just 5-years into this decade, the United Nations decided to create the International Day for People of African Descent.

This happened after the COVID-19 pandemic made it extremely clear that there were still a lot of structural inequalities and systematic racism in healthcare that have yet to be solved.

Some Quick And Interesting Facts About Africa

You didn’t think that we were going to cover International Day for People of African Descent without taking a few moments to talk about Africa and its culture did you? We decided it was important to list some of the facts that we learned about Africa that we can now share with everyone.

• Africa is the second largest continent in the world and there are over 54 countries on it.
• Africa covers an area of over 30 million square kilometers.
• The languages most widely spoken in Africa are Arabic, English, Swahili, French, Berber, Hausa, and Portuguese.
• There are over 2,000 recognized languages spoken in Africa. That’s a quarter of all the world’s languages.
• During the Second Congo War, over 5 million people died.
• Approximately 9 out of 10 malaria cases in the world are in Africa.
• Africa is home to one of the oldest universities in the world. The University of Timbuktu was built in the 10th century.

Observing International Day For People Of African Descent

This is a day for people to learn more about African history, culture, and heritage. This can be done by visiting museums or talking with people who have emigrated from Africa. It’s also a good day to enjoy African art. And everyone observing this holiday can let the world know about it by using the hashtag #InternationDayForPeopleOfAfricanDescent on social media.