Liberia’s first presidential election is won by Joseph Jenkins Roberts. The West African country founded by African-Americans once enslaved in the U.S. (where Roberts was born) declared its national sovereignty three months ago, in July, 1847.

The Mayor of East London, South Africa switches on the town’s first twelve electric streetlights, lighting 20 arc lamps and 283 incandescent lamps. (pic: Oxford Street, East London)

In British Nigeria, the colonial government reports that of 1909 government revenues of £1,361,891 (equal to £205,241,445 in 2023), two-thirds of the total came from Customs Duties, and of this, 75% came from tax on imported “spirits.” It is Nigeria’s thirst for alcoholic beverages that pays for government services, infrastructure and other development.

The American University in Cairo, founded in 1919, opens for classes. The first 142 students are instructed at Khairy Pasha Palace. In 2023, the number of students will be about 7,000.

The Nyasaland Police Force is established by colonial authorities as the British colony’s first national constabulary. Under a Chief Commissioner and headquartered in the capital Zomba, the force will also have stations in the towns Blantyre, Mulanje and Mangochi. At national independence in 1964, the name will be changed to the Malawi Police Force and later the Malawi Police Service.

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Italy commits war crimes in its frenzy to avenge its humiliating loss at the 1896 Battle of Adowa, which at the time ended Italy’s ambition to conquer Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Although the Ethiopian army has already withdrawn from Adowa, the Italian Air Force bombs the town mercilessly, killing hundreds of civilians.

A Referendum on Becoming a Republic is held in South Africa. Voting is restricted to white South Africans. After supporters of a Republic argued that ties with Britain will eventually lead to black majority rule in South Africa, as has happened in other former British colonies in Africa, 52.29% of voters approve to end the Union of South Africa.

In Accra, Black Star Square, commemorating Ghana’s Independence in 1957, is completed, in time for the state visit to the country by Britain's Queen Elizabeth next month. The public space will be used for holiday and military parades, and large gatherings.

Nigeria gives the UN the sculpture "The Awakening," of the Igbo goddess of the sun Anyanwu as envisioned by of one of Africa's greatest sculptors, Nigerian Ben Enwonwu. The sculpture will come to be considered as one of the UN's most significant works of art.

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The Mogadishu Agreement is approved, and Ugandan and Tanzanian forces end hostilities at their shared border. Tensions rose after Tanzania supported an invasion of Uganda by rebels who sought to oust Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Amin will never forgive Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere, and will mount a failed invasion of Tanzania in 1978.

Africa’s first fully-electric cross-border electric rail line begins service: the US$3.4 billion, 750-km Ethiopia-Djibouti Electric Railway. Travel time from Addis Ababa to Djibouti’s port is cut from three days to 12 hours. The line will haul 95% of landlocked Ethiopia’s exports to sea for transport to foreign markets.