By year’s end, the first Muslims to settle in Africa, having fled persecution in Arabia, have settled in the Christian kingdom of Aksum (Ethiopia-Eritrea). Among them is Rukayyah, daughter of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Welcomed by Najashi, the Negus (king) of the Aksum, they will build the first mosque in Africa, in Massawa (Ethiopia). In 2023, their Mosque of Companions (pic) will be one of the oldest mosques in the world. In 614, at Negash (Eritrea), they will build the Al Nejashi Mosque, where several of the original followers of Muhammad will be buried.

The Uganda Railway line reaches Port Florence (Kisumu) in British Kenya, its northernmost point. This completes the line. Advertisements published in Britain highlight the African travel adventure now available to tourists.

The Turkish Ottoman Empire’s four-century influence over Egypt ends as the Khedive (Viceroy in the Ottoman Empire) of Egypt and Sudan, Abbas II, is deposed by the British. He is replaced as the country’s ruler by his pro-British uncle, Hussein Kamel, who is given the title Sultan of Egypt. Abbas has sided with the Ottomans as they aligned with Germany in its fight against Britain in World War I. For much of the year, he has been in Constantinople, the Ottoman Capital, where he was wounded in an assassination attempt in July. Although barred from returning to Egypt, he will not abdicate his throne until 1931.

One of South Africa’s oldest homes burns down on South Africa’s oldest commercial wine estates. The thatching of the Groot Constantia Manor House, built in 1685 in Cape Town, catches fire, and the interior is gutted. Reconstruction (pic) will begin in 1926.

After Italy invaded in October, Ethiopia fights alone, enjoying international sympathy but no useful support. A global call goes out for foreign volunteers to assist. (pic: civilian soldiers recruited in Harlem, New York)

By leaking fake intelligence, British forces trick the Italians into believing that Britain’s army is about to invade and retake British Somalia, lost to Italy in 1940 during World War II. Italy believes an invasion is coming, and rather than fight, the Italian army is evacuated to Eritrea, where the real British attack is about to take place (pic).

Sudan unilaterally declares its independence, by unanimous vote of parliament. Britain and Egypt, which have jointly controlled Sudan during since 1899, will have no alternative but to recognise the independent country in two weeks, on 1 January 1956.

The town of Victoria Falls, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), comes under mortar fire from Zambia across the Zambezi River. Insurgents fighting Rhodesia’s white minority government target the historic Victoria Falls Hotel and the Victoria Falls Casino. Eight tourists are wounded; one seriously. Six weeks ago (2 November), a heat-seeking missile fired from Zambia destroyed the Elephant Hills Hotel.

Responding to international pressure, Libya reveals the extent of its research and capabilities with regard to weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The Angola Capital Market is opened, in Luanda, allowing investors new opportunities to profit in the country. With the formation also of the country’s stock exchange seven months ago, Angola’s government hopes to earn US$1 billion in tax revenue from stock market transactions.

With Sudan’s inflation already at 70%, mass protests erupt when government triples the price of goods. Calls become widespread for the end of Omar al-Bashir’s 29-year dictatorship.