The most destructive African earthquake of the 18th century kills 20,000 people in Algiers. Powerful aftershocks that will continue until May destroy buildings damaged in today's quake.

Pretoria, Transvaal in South Africa is connected to Lourenço Marques (Maputo), Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) as a railway line built by the Netherlands-South African Railway Company begins operations.

The ancient Nigerian city Kano is captured by Britain’s West African Frontier Force – 700 African soldiers, some British officers, four artillery pieces and four machine guns. The Muslim fundamentalist Fulani Empire has maintained a thriving slave market at Kano. The peace treaty bans slavery but commits Britain to non-interference in Islamic customs and law.

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The worst aviation disaster in West Africa to date occurs in British Cameroon when when an Air France passenger plane flying to Niamey, Niger from Douala, French Cameroon drifts off course and crashes into Mount Cameroon. All 29 people on board are killed.

Portuguese intelligence is likely behind the assassination one of the most formidable fighters against Portugal’s colonial rule in Africa. Eduardo Mondlane (right in pic, with Samora Machel), the president of Mozambique’s liberation party FRELIMO, is killed in Tanzania, where he is living in exile. He opens a book sent by post, and detonates a bomb hidden inside.

The City of Abuja is founded as Nigeria’s future capital. Construction and road building crews are at work on the location that will replace Lagos as capital in 1991.

The name of Mozambique’s capital Lourenço Marques is changed to Maputo, after the city’s river, by Mozambique’s President Samora Machel.

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Nabemba Tower, the tallest building in the Republic of Congo, was completed in 1986, but is officially dedicated today in Brazzaville by President Sassou Nguesso. The striking, modern tower will remain Congo's tallest building in 2024.

South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council reports that violent attacks by whites against blacks have increased sharply in the two years since President de Klerk announced the first measures toward ending the apartheid policies of white supremacy.

Tanzania’s first private radio station, Radio Tumaini, goes on the air, broadcasting primarily in Kiswahili. The station is run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam as a non-profit business.

For the first time, South Africa hosts the continental football championship the Africa Cup of Nations (its 19th edition). The South African national team wins the title, which is consistent with host countries often lifting the Cup. The number of participating teams expands to 16. Zimbabwe’s Kalushia Bwalya is Top Scorer with five goals.

One of Africa's worst maritime disasters occurs after the owners of the Egyptian passenger ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 refuse the captain’s request to return to port when a fire breaks out. The owners order the ship to continue sailing to Saudi Arabia. Before arriving, she capsizes and sinks. Only 388 of the 1400 people on board are rescued. The ship owners will be jailed.