Spanish authorities in Venezuela extend a trading license to English privateer John Hawkins, happy with his delivery of 400 enslaved Africans he brought from Guinea in West Africa. In England, Queen Elizabeth I is also happy with Hawkins’ profits in the Atlantic Slave trade after she granted him permission to sail that she issues him a coat of arms featuring a picture of a male African slave. Hawkins descendants will publicly beg Africa for forgiveness for his actions in 2006.
Alfred Mangena, studying in London to become South Africa’s first black lawyer, files a deposition ‘against Sir Henry McCallum, the governor of Natal, charging him with acts of oppression involving the illegal proclamation of martial law and the homicide of twelve natives put to death.’ The British magistrate refuses to receive the deposition in open court, an act that will be criticised in the British parliament. The governor of Britain’s Natal Colony seeks to force Zulu men to work as miners after they refused to accept the “slave wages” paid to Chinese indentured workers, and has imposed a Poll Tax that has resulted in rioting. If they cannot pay the tax, men can be forced by government to work in gold mines in a policy enacted in partnership with mine owners. Governor McCallum will use public money to “investigate” Mangena, resulting in a smear campaign against him in British newspapers. Mangena will successfully sue the newspapers for libel. Alone as he stands for their rights against the British Empire, Mangena becomes a hero among black South Africans.
Sudan’s first bank is established. The Anglo-Egyptian bank of Alexandria, Egypt opens a Sudanese branch on Nile Street in Khartoum, near the Grand Hotel (pic). Until now, travelers have been using the Grand Hotel for currency exchanges and some banking services.
The Women’s Enfranchised Act goes into effect in South Africa. White women 21 years and older are allowed to vote and run for office. The law does not permit women of South Africa’s black majority to vote, or any woman of other non-white races.
Modeled after the U.S. government’s House Committee on Un-American Activities, South Africa’s parliamentary Internal Security Commission is established, targeting anti-apartheid dissent.
The first South African film about black South Africans under apartheid and aimed at a black South African audience is released. Mapantsula stars Thomas Mogotlane as a gangster who must choose between self-interest and social activism.
Côte d’Ivoire and Lesotho establish diplomatic relations with South Africa, which is transitioning to become a democratic state. (pic: Nelson Mandela with Lesotho King Moshoeshoe II.)
Zaire, its name changed by Mobuto Sese Seko from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1971, again becomes the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now removed from power, Mobuto is living in exile in Morocco. A new national flag (pic) will be adopted in 2006.
The Gambia’s dictator Yahya Jammeh begins a witch-hunting campaign, reportedly terrified that he may be removed from power through witchcraft. More than 1,000 Gambians were abducted by Jammeh’s “witch-doctors,” taken to detention centres and tortured.
Second president of Liberia (1856-1864), in Cambridge, Maryland, U.S. Immigrating as a boy with his family to the Liberian colony, he was a Methodist preacher and successful businessman before entering politics. He spoke several indigenous languages, and as president he made treaties with the local peoples to expand the country, while obtaining international recognition for Liberia from Belgium, Denmark, the U.S., Norway and Sweden.
Military dictator of Ethiopia (1974-1991), in Wolayita, Ethiopia. His junta overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie, ending the 600 year-old Solomonic Dynasty. He attempted to run Ethiopia’s economy with Marxist-Leninist policies like nationalisation and land redistribution. After he survived a failed assassination attempt in 1978, his revenge on political rivals and their supporters cost the lives of up to 750,000 Ethiopians. He failed to act during Ethiopia’s historic famine in 1983-1985, when 1.2 million people died. After the Soviet Union withdrew its support of his regime in 1990, he was forced out of power in 1991.
