The army of Takyi Kuma, who began a civil war in the Eguafo kingdom of Gold Coast (Ghana) in January in order to seize the throne, is defeated. Terms of peace are negotiated. Takyi Kuma will continue in his ambition, and ultimately succeed in becoming the Eguafo’s ruler in 1700. (pic: An Akani warrior, whose people are allied with Takyi Kuma)

The Second Matebele War, known as the First Chimurenga in 21st century Zimbabwe where the uprising will be seen as a milestone in the defiance of colonialism, begins with the murder of a policemen by followers of Mlimo. The Matebele’s spiritual leader convinces his people and the Shona people that the presence of 4,000 British settlers in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) is responsible for drought, locust plague and cattle disease, and they must be driven out. The uprising will expand on 24 March when 2,000 Matebele warriors begin killing settlers. In Mantebeleland, 141 settlers will be killed and in Mshonaland 104 settlers will be killed before the remaining settlers flee to Bulawayo. (pic: newspaper drawing of Mlimo)

After 45 days since departure from London, the first airplane flight to Cape Town lands at Wynberg, South Africa. The same trip by steamship takes 28 to 30 days to complete. Two planes had to be used on the trip after the first one crashed departing Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). The one that lands today (pic) is the replacement plane bought from the British Air Force.    

The Ismaly Sports Club is established, as El Nahda Sporting Club, in Ismalia, Egypt. In 1934, the club will build its own stadium, the Ismalia Stadium, one of Africa’s oldest stadiums, which will be renovated in 2009.

British forces retake British Somalia from Italian colonial forces four days after a beach landing of British and Indian troops, accompanied by a Somali commando unit.

Tunisia achieves national independence, from France. The capital city is Tunis. The national population is four million people.

The largest museum in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), the Natural History Museum of Bulawayo, opens in Bulawayo.

An United Arab Airlines passenger jet crashes in a sandstorm at Aswan Airport, Egypt, killing 100 of 105 people on board.

The Seychelles International Airport at the capital Victoria on Mahé Island is opened by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Considered historically one of the greatest victories for a liberation army, the three-day Battle of Afabet during the Eritrean War of Independence against Ethiopia ends with the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front killing or capturing 18,000 Ethiopian soldiers, including whole divisions of Ethiopia’s best trained and armed troops. This is Eritrea’s greatest victory of its 30-year war for independence.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain addresses South Africa’s Parliament, in Cape Town. From her coronation in 1953 until South Africa became a republic in 1961, she was the country’s Head of State.

An international coalition of militaries led by the U.S. invades Iraq. The African Union’s 52 member states vote unanimously to condemn the U.S. War on Iraq.  Protests against the war occur throughout Africa, with the largest disrupting Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt; Mombasa, Kenya; Tripoli, Libya; Rabat, Morocco; Windhoek, Namibia; and Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa.

A 50 year-old rock and concrete bridge built for pedestrians and small vehicles at Gueckedou, Guinea collapses under the weight of a heavy truck loaded with passengers and bags of cement and rice. The passengers and cargo are thrown from the falling open truck into the river, and more than 70 persons perish.