South Africa becomes the world’s top gold producer. The country will remain the largest producer of gold through the 20th and into the 21st centuries. (pic: mining the “main reef” outside Johannesburg)

Emperor Menelik II (pic) of Ethiopia captures Gaki Sherocho, the last king of Kaffa, bringing an end to the Kaffa kingdom that originated in ancient times. Sherocho is brought to Menelik in silver chains forged from the looted treasury of Kaffa. He will remain a prisoner until death in 1919.

The International Locust Conference, an annual event focusing on the need to combat horrific locust plagues in Africa (pic), is held in London. Entomologists resolve that the breeding ground for Africa’s locusts must be identified by field researchers.

The first group of 81 Kenyan students are airlifted to the U.S. with scholarships to attend American and Canadian universities. The programme seeks to address the human capital shortage as Kenya prepares for self-governance as an independent country. Independence leader Tom Mboya conceives the idea, and obtains financing from African-American celebrities. In 1960, John Kennedy, when he is running in the U.S. presidential election, will make a critical financial donation. Another U.S. president, Barack Obama, will benefit from the airlift because his father, Barack Obama Sr., is inspired by the airlift to apply and receive a scholarship to the University of Hawaii, where he will meet his wife and mother of his son. Airlift beneficiaries include many future Kenyan political leaders, diplomats, scientists and journalists. Two female scholars are Wangari Maathai, the first woman to earn the Nobel Peace Prize, and Leah Marangu, the first East African woman to become a full professor and lead an African university.

Zaire dictator Mobuto Sese Seko, with the approval of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, sends two 7th Zairean Commando Battalions into Angola to assist the National Liberation Army of Angola to take Luanda from the government of the recently-independent country, which is backed by the U.S.' rival the Soviet Union.

Al-Qaeda terrorists destroy the World Trade Centre in New York, killing 2,996 people, including Africans from Democratic Republic of Congo (2 dead), Ethiopia (2 dead), The Gambia (2 dead), Ghana (2 dead), South Africa (2 dead), Cote d’Ivoire (1 dead), Kenya (1 dead) and Nigeria (1 dead). Memorial services will be held throughout Africa in sympathy over the tragedy.

Islamic fundamentalists angered by a U.S. movie about the prophet Muhammad storm the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, tear down U.S. flags and replace them with Islamic religious symbols.

A survey finds Ugandans drink 110 litres of alcohol per capita annually, of which 68 litres are illegal home brews like Ajono that evade government taxation.

Senegalese developers announce plans for Diamniadio, a US$2 billion, 1,644 hectare town intended to relieve traffic and housing pressure on the capital Dakar. With a completion date of 2035, the development will have an industrial park, a new university, shopping malls and 350,000 residents.