Time is kept at the Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez (Morocco) using an ornate water clock (pic: the clock reconstructed at the Istanbul Museum of History and Science in Islam). The mosque is part of the University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 857 and now in the 14th Century one of the leading centres of learning in the Islamic world.

Zanzibar ruler Sultan Hamoud bin Mohammed issues a decree making slavery illegal in the British protectorate. The Sultanate of Zanzibar was set up as a sovereign state 30 years before with its economy based on the slave trade.

For the first time, Americans hear of Africa from an African, as Pixley ka Isaka Seme, a South African studying at New York City’s Columbia University, gives a lecture “The Regeneration of Africa” at the university. The speech will be carried on the front page of tomorrow’s New York Times, and be reported in London and South Africa. Seme will be asked by the New York Board of Education Public Lecture Bureau ”to deliver a series of free public lectures on Life in Zululand’’ accompanied by projected photos.

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The Royal Corps of Somalia Colonial Troops is established as an army of local Somali soldiers to provide security for Italian Somalia. The Somali men are excellent soldiers, and are used by Italy in its conquests in Africa. In 1911, 1,000 of the corps’ soldiers will be sent to Libya to seize that country from Turkey. In 1935, the corps will be used by Italy to conquer Haile Selassie’s Ethiopia.

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The Olympic flag, displayed for the first time a few days before at the 20th anniversary meeting of the International Olympics Committee in Paris, is flown for the first time at a sports competition, in Alexandria, Egypt. The event is an early attempt to conduct a Pan-African Games.

The coronation today of Akezuna II, Oba of Benin, following the death of his father, Eweka II, in February. The leader of the Edo people will reign until his death in 1978. He pursues two goals: education for all Edo children and the return of the 3,000 Benin Bronzes stolen by Britain in the 1890s.

At 2.1 metres (6’9”) in height, Africa’s tallest leader in history, Rudahigwa Mutara III towers over Belgian government officials on a visit to Belgium’s parliament in Brussels. Although he is the traditional leader of the Tutsi, the Belgians have installed him as traditional ruler over all Belgian Congo. This has resulted in discrimination against the Hutu and Twa peoples.

One of Nigeria’s most illustrious musical careers begins as 24 year-old musician Victor Uwaifo forms his first band, the Melody Maestros. Between now and 1968, Uwaifo will develop the Akwete rhythm sound, and light up clubs and dance floors touring with it.

The bombing of the West Berlin, Germany club by Libyan agents under orders of Libya's ruler Muammar Gaddafi kills three and injures 279. Two Americans are killed and 79 Americans are injured. U.S. President Ronald Reagan orders retaliatory aerial bombing of Libya, which will happen on 15 April.

One month after a coup d’état topples the government of South Africa’s “independent country” Ciskei, a coup d’état removes the government of another apartheid invention, the "homeland" Venda. On 1 May, Pretoria will admit that the “bantustans” are failures. These will be reintegrated back into South Africa.

Seeking to boost investment, Sub-Saharan African countries produced a record number of business reforms in 2017, reports the World Bank. Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia are among the world's Top 10 most-improved countries for business regulation reforms. The overall leader for past 15 years is Rwanda, which has put 52 reforms in place.

As Africa locks down to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and people are confined to their homes, Cape Town, South Africa builds an emergency shelter for 2,000 homeless people. City council pays for water and electricity; food and blankets are donated by the public.