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1815

The Second Tripolitian War ends, and so do centuries of piracy from the Barbary Coast States (Algeria, Libya) against Mediterranean shipping. The U.S. and its European allies in the conflict sign treaties in Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli.

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1815

1875

The first edition of Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper is published, in Cairo.

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1875

1890

For the next 30 years, carvers among Mali’s Bamana people will reach the peak of their artistry, producing exquisite masks combining human and animal features. To a Western eye they seem both ancient and futuristic. The masks are avidly collected by European painters like Pablo Picasso, whose “modern art” ideas are inspired by and in some cases duplicate Africa’s indigenous sculptures.

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1890

1905

The new iron arch bridge spanning the Zambezi River at Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) is tested by construction trains in preparation for the bridge’s opening next month.

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1905

1907

The bombardment of Casablanca begins. The French naval attack will last for two days, and 7,000 Moroccans will die from artillery shells shot from battleships at sea. France’s military conquest of Morocco for the purpose of colonisation has encountered resistance from the Shawiya people, who demand the removal of a customs house on their land and the removal of a railroad that runs across a sacred cemetery. Railroad workers have been killed. As the insurrection spreads into Casablanca, French battleships respond by firing bombs containing picric acid into residential neighbourhoods. (pic: postcard showing the dead covering the streets of Casablanca)

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1907

1915

Whaling off Seychelles is coming to an end due to the declining price of sperm whale oil and a government tax imposed two years ago. This year, 21,000 litres of whale oil are exported.

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1915

1917

Sudan is under the control of a British-Egyptian partnership, and the Bank of Egypt issues Sudan’s first banknotes today. They are linked to the Egyptian pound, which is linked to the British pound, but are used only in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The notes show camels, people and ships along the bank of the Nile River in Sudan, and will remain in use until 1952.

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1917

1927

Auto traffic is growing dense in Lourenço Marques, the capital of Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique). Traffic police are stationed at intersections, providing a rare instance of Europeans obeying orders given by black Africans.

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1927

1940

Italian forces capture the British Somalia towns of Zeila and Hargeisa during World War II. British forces are cut off from French Somalia.

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1940

1950

Malaria has been nearly eradicated in Swaziland (Eswatini), where up to 1,000 people in the sparsely-populated country used to die annually in the lowveld areas. From now through October, government workers will visit every hut and house to spray DDT, and instruct residents about the disease.

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1950

1960

Burkina Faso achieves national independence, from France. The capital is Ouagadougou. A person from the country is called a Burkinabé. The national population is 4.8 million.

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1960

1965

With shiny gold and white colours, the Kingdom of Libya Airlines begins service, on domestic routes. International routes begin in October. After the 1969 revolution, the national air carrier will be renamed Libyan Airlines.

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1965

1992

As the main event of a week of mass action in South Africa, liberation leader Nelson Mandela leads 50,000 people on a march to Pretoria’s Union Buildings. They demand an immediate transition from white minority rule under apartheid to majority rule in a multi-racial democratic state.

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1992

2021

Because video games can be downloaded and played on phones, 186 million Africans will be gamers in 2021. Africa will also see higher growth in gaming than any continent in the future, finds a survey by games analytic company NewZoo.

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2021

Births

1947
Julie Okoh

Nigerian playwright, educator and women’s right’s activist, in Ubiaja, Edo, British Nigeria. A dozen books have been written analysing her plays’ depictions of women in African society. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists in 2011, and continues to write plays.

1982
Nedu Wazobia

Nigerian broadcast personality, actor and comedian, in Kaduna, Nigeria. After appearing in seven Nollywood movies, he invented comedic characters for Internet videos whose popularity have earned him 1.3 million Instagram followers.

1987
William Kamkwamba

Malawian inventor and author, in Kasungu, Malawi. He earned fame at age 14 for inventing an electric turbine to power household appliances that is made from blue gum trees and scrap parts. He turned the experience into a book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which became an international hit.