1899
The Continuum Agreement is signed by Britain and Egypt, giving both countries joint control over Sudan. The presence of British troops in those countries will cause decades of resistance from Egyptian and Sudanese nationalists.
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1899
1934
Nigeria's first institution of higher learning, Yaba Higher College, is formally opened in the Lagos suburb of Yaba. Medical students have been allowed to study since 1930 as the college has been established. Civil engineering, agriculture and teacher training are also taught. Medical courses take five years. (pic: medical students in late 1930s)
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1934
1941
British forces seek the ouster of the Italian army in Eritrea during the East African Campaign of World War II. Today, Britain pushes up the date of a planned attack to take advantage of low Italian morale following Italy’s recent loss of Egypt and Ethiopia. With Indian (in pic) and Free French troops, Britain will take Eritrea by April.
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1941
1954
A new generation of “Zulu Rickshaw Boys” continue to attract tourists with fantastical headgear. They are now also making their rickshaws festive with decorations.
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1954
1956
Sudan joins the Arab League. The membership expands the league south into East Africa.
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1956
2013
Africa’s football fans delight in having the biennial Africa Cup of Nations two years in a row, as Africa’s top football championship switches from even to odd-numbered years to avoid conflicting with the FIFA World Cup. South Africa against hosts the Africa Cup, which will be won by Nigeria on 10 February.
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2013
2017
The winner of The Gambia’s presidential election is sworn in, but not in The Gambia. Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh goes back on his promise to honour the will of Gambian voters, and continues to occupy the presidential palace. Adama Barrow is sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
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2017
2019
Uganda’s tallest building, the URA Tower in Kampala, is opened by President John Magufuli. Employees of the Uganda Revenue Authority from both Entebbe and Kampala will be housed in the 23-floor tower.
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2019
2019
Khoisan descendants of Southern Africa's original human inhabitants, after trekking 1,200 km to Pretoria, camp at the Union Buildings to press South Africa’s government to make Kwadi-Khoe the country’s 12th official language. They also seek land to pursue traditional lives.
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2019
2020
Casablanca’s new light rail system is proving popular and profitable. Morocco receives US$100 million today from the World Bank to extend the tram line by 12.5 km, with 20 new stations to serve densely-populated communities.
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2020
Births
1921
Fodéba Keïta
Guinean composer, writer, musician and dancer, in Siguiri, French Guinea. His poems and novels were banned by French colonial officials in West Africa, who considered him radically anti-colonial. He was the founder of Africa’s first professional theatre troupe, the dance troupe Théâtre Africain (today Les Ballets Africains) that toured Africa for six years before becoming the national dance company of Guinea. He arranged the Guinean national anthem, Liberté.
1943
Bertie Reed
Considered Africa’s best yachtsman, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He began sports sailing immediately after he retired from the South African navy after 21 years. The first South African to circumnavigate the global single-handedly, he received South Africa’s highest civilian honour for bravery, the Wolraad Woltemade Decoration, for saving the life of a fellow competitor whose boat sank during the 1991 BOC Challenge.
1953
Kizito Lwanga
Catholic leader and human rights activist, in Naggalama, British Uganda. As the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kampala he spoke out against human rights abuses carried out by the government of Yoweri Museveni, and during the January 2021 elections he expressed fears he was being poisoned. After again raising criticisms of Museveni at a mass on 2 April 2021, he mysteriously died that night.
1987
Tobechi Nneji
Nigerian radio and TV host, in Lagos, Nigeria. A 2013 survey established her show was the most listened-to mid-day radio programme in Eastern Nigeria. Companies and universities have sought her as a broadcast consultant.
