Gold fever grips South Africa a letter is published in the Tranvaal Argus newspaper from German explorer Karl Mauch. He describes how he came across a a gold-bearing quartz deposit located between the Shashi and Ramaquabane rivers in an area bordering the Matabele kingdom (Zimbabwe) and the Bechuanaland Protectorate (Botswana). The lode has been mined since ancient times, but is news to the white population. South Africa’s first gold rush now begins.
The Natal Observatory is opened, at the Natal Botanic Gardens in the Colony of Natal, South Africa, specifically in time for the observation of the transit of Venus this evening. The observatory will collect data on the moon’s motion that is vital to navigation. The facility is part of Natal Technical College.
At Lake Nyasa, fierce fighting erupts between British forces and the Swahili Muslims from the East Coast of Africa who work for Mlozi bin Kazbadema (pic). Mlozi has occupied an area in Central Africa to secure a supply of people for his slave trade. A force of over 400 Sikh and African riflemen sent by the British Consul for Mozambique and Interior fights to chase off Mlozi. They will succeed after a two-day assault on his fortified headquarters. Up to 300 of Mlozi’s fighters will die, and Mlozi will be hanged after a fast trial.
Work finishes on schedule rehabilitating Victoria Bridge over the Zambezi River at Mosi-oa-Tunya waterfalls (called Victoria Falls by Europeans). The 25 year-old bridge, one of Africa’s most famous, was in danger of collapsing under the weight of modern trains. The work cost £32,870 (equal to £2,2million in 2022). The construction of a section for automobiles will take two more years.
In Egypt, the Second Cairo Conference is held between U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt (the first visit by a U.S. president to Egypt), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Turkish President Ismet Inönü, to agree upon Turkey’s neutrality during World War II.
Dictator of Central African Republic Jean-Bédel Bokassa changes the country name to the Central African Empire and crowns himself His Imperial Majesty Bokassa I, at a ceremony costing US$20 million (equal to US$102 million in 2023). The amount spent on his coronation is one third of the annual government budget, and is the same amount as France’s aid money the country this year.
Tanzania's army has recaptured all the territory taken by Ugandan forces in their October invasion. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere declares the Ugandan invasion voided a neutrality agreement between the countries, and as a penalty his government will finance, train, and arm any Ugandans seeking to overthrow Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.
Fulfilling apartheid policy of revoking the citizenships of black South Africans and making them “citizens” of “tribal homelands,” Pretoria grants “independence” to one homeland within South Africa. Named Ciske, the “country” will not be recognised internationally.
U.S. President George Bush announces 28,000 American troops will be sent to Somalia to assist the U.N. famine relief by providing security. The move draws the U.S. in Somalia’s civil war.
One of Southern Africa's most widely-viewed total solar eclipses is visible in arc from Angola through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to South Africa.
As the annual dangerous illegal sea migration from Africa to Europe draws to an end this year, a boat carrying African migrants to Europe sinks off Mauritania; 58 of 141 people on board die.
The ride-hailed app Uber launches its first bus service, in Cairo, Egypt. Uber announces plans to make Cairo-like bus service available globally.
Egyptian swimmer and air force commander, in Cairo, Egypt. He was Egypt’s champion swimmer and national water polo team captain when he represented his country at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games. He was appointed Commander of the Egyptian Air Force in 1969, toward the end of the War of Attrition with Israel that proved difficult for Egypt’s air force. He was replaced prior to the 1973 war with Israel.
Senegalese Islamic scholar and spiritual leader, in Kaolack, French Senegal. As Iman of the Jama’at Nasr al-Ilm (“Community of Helping Knowledge”), he writes and speaks internationally on the need for Muslim unification and outreach to the non-Muslim world. He spreads this message through the African American Islamic Institute that he founded to pursue joint initiatives between U.S. and West African Muslims on a variety of social issues.
South African TV host and radio personality, in Pretoria, South Africa. A South African television star from his first talk show The Phat Joe Show, where the country’s entertainers and public figures appeared, he was a host on several TV specials and reality shows
