The 35 surviving Africans enslaved on the slave ship La Amistad (pic) - who revolted but were then arrested upon arrival in the U.S. – set sail on their return voyage to Africa. They have been freed by the U.S. Supreme Court. They will arrive in Sierra Leone in January 1842, intending to establish a new life
The Battle of Graspan pits 9,000 British against 3,000 Boer soldiers. The fighting shows a lack of offensive capacity that will hinder the Boer forces throughout the Anglo-Boer War, leading to defeat in 1902.
The Battle of Ngomano is fought in Portuguese Mozambique between German forces fleeing the fall of German East Africa and Portuguese forces. Germany has declared war on Portugal. Using supplies captured during its victory at Ngomano, German troops continue to attack Portuguese garrisons.
The East German Campaign of World War I ends with Allied Forces led by Britain victorious over Germany. Battles have been fought in what will become the nations of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia. While 20,000 Allied soldiers and 2,000 German soldiers die, the greatest casualties are African civilians. 365,000 African civilians die from war-related famines.
Portugal appoints a transitional council as it possessions São Tomé and Príncipe prepare for independence. The local political group MLSTP is deemed the only official representative of the islands’ peoples.
A bloodless coup d’état in Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) overthrows President Sangoulé Lamizana. The coup leaders will rule for two years until they are themselves ousted by a coup in 1982.
South African mercenaries attempted a coup d’état in Seychelles, but fail to replace Prime Minister France-Albert René with his predecessor, James Mancham. René (pic: left) has ousted Mancham in a 1977 coup d’état. Mancham has appealed to Pretoria for assistance. South Africa, like the U.S., dislikes René because of his Marxism. The counter-coup is foiled by a Seychelles customs agent, who finds weapons in the mercenaries’ luggage. The press calls the affair a “coup d’farce.”
Seychelles’ annual holiday Defence Forces Day is first observed to commemorate last year’s failed coup d’état attempted by foreign mercenaries. However, a second coup d’état was attempted three months ago, when six soldiers and two civilians were killed.
South African forces aiding anti-government rebels in Angola shoot down a Russian-built government transport plane, using a shoulder-mounted surface-to-air missile, killing all 21 people on board
A solar eclipse over Antarctica is visible as a partial eclipse in southwestern South Africa, and becomes a “learning moment” for millions of school children.
Pope Francis begins his first trip to Africa, with a three-day visit to Kenya that includes time at Nairobi’s Kangemi slum.
The release of Cameroon’s first animated film, Minga and the Broken Spoon. The film, by Cledley Productions, is based on a Cameroonian folk tale.
Eritrean and Sudanese migrants are among the 27 people drowned in the single worst loss of life ever in the English Channel, as their craft sinks on a crossing from France to England. More than 1,600 Africans have died in 2021 as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean, as they flee warfare and poverty.
Egyptian economist and financial pioneer, in Cairo, Egypt. A successful entrepreneur, he was responsible for bringing a distinctive, indigenous national economy into being when he founded Banque Misr. At the bank, business was conducted exclusively in Arabic, at an institution that was entirely owned and staffed by Egyptians.
Cabo Verdean singer, in Sal, Cabo Verde. He was one of the country’s most popular performers from 1975 until his premature death at age 50. He became known internationally with his record Nôs Morna, and gave his home island Sal its reputation as a musical place.
Eritrean cyclist, in Asmara, Eritrea. Before competing in the Women’s Road Race at the 2020 Olympics, she won the 2019 African Road Championships to establish herself as one of Eritrea’s top women cyclists.
