Brazil celebrates 200th anniversary of independence
September 8, 2022, 10:07 am

Brazil celebrates 200th anniversary of independence

On Sept. 7, 1822, the then-prince of Portugal, Pedro de Braganca, declared Brazil to be an independent nation from the former United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve's - Photo. Pixabay

Brazil celebrated its bicentennial independence from Portugal on Wednesday (Sep 7), with colorful parades and military displays as the nation is bracing for October presidential election, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889.

On Sept. 7, 1822, the then-prince of Portugal, Pedro de Braganca, declared Brazil to be an independent nation from the former United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve's.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attended the Independence Day military parade in the South American nation's capital, Brasilia.

Ahead of the celebration day, Bolsonaro had called for his supporters to take to the streets, telling TV Brasil "what is at stake is our freedom and our future."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro - Facebook page

Critics say he has transformed what should be a day of unity into a campaign event and fear he will use it to undermine next month’s election in Latin America’s biggest democracy.

The military parade itself was attended by thousands of Bolsonaro supporters ahead of October's presidential vote, which experts have called the most divisive in recent decades.

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On Wednesday (Sep 7), Bolsonaro arrived at 8.40 am local time in a presidential Rolls Royce with First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro and was later flanked by a number of close allies as the president seized the moment to push for his own electoral support ahead of the election.

"The will of the people will be present on Oct. 2. Let's all vote, let's convince those who think differently from us, let's convince them of what is best for our Brazil," he said.

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Bolsonaro also touched on the "good versus evil" narrative which he has used to refer to his political rival and front-runner Lula, insisting "the people are on our side. The people are on the side of good. The people know what they want"

Shortly before the start of the parade, the national anthem, independence anthem and flag anthem were played. At the start of the parade, a procession of tractors from Brazil's power agribusiness sector and prominent supporters of Bolsonaro, passed through the parade.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”