Founding of Al-Azhara University in Cairo; one of the world’s first universities and the only one in the Arab world that will survive into the 21st Century, when it will become the chief center of Arabic literature and Islamic learning.

Two Citroën half-track motor vehicles successfully finish their trip across the Sahara Desert when they return to Touggourt in French Algeria. As a publicity stunt, Citroën sent two French drivers from Touggourt on 17 December to drive to Timbuktu and back again to prove the ruggedness of the new half-track.

The Gambia’s foremost Islamic scholar, Iman Ratib Alhaji Jobe, sends a telegram to England’s King George VI from Gambian chiefs assuring their support during World War II. Jobe, who will hold several positions in colonial government and in Gambia’s government after independence, is acting in his capacity as Postmaster General.

Aden Airways is established, with engineering operations in Asmara, Eritrea and headquarters in the British Protectorate of Aden. The airlines routes travel to Cairo, Nairobi and the Red Sea area.

Kenya independence activist Tom Mboya appears on the cover of Time, the international newsmagazine, highlighting his global fame that currently surpasses that of Jomo Kenyatta.

The largest town in Swaziland (Eswatini) changes its name from the colonial name Bremersdorp to the name the Swazis have always used for the location: Manzini. Bremersdorp was named after the first white settler, Arthur Bremer. With the name Manzini, the town is still named for him. Bremer like all white settlers was referred to by Swazis as "emantini" ("emanzini" in the sister isiZulu language which was used in mission schools), which means "from the water" - because all white people traveled across oceans to get here.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Joshua Nkomo flees the country after President Robert Mugabe kills 20,000 of Nkomo’s followers in Matabeleland. Mugabe chose to believe “evidence” planted by South African intelligence agents that have infiltrated Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation, which seems to implicate Nkomo in an uprising against Mugabe. South Africa’s white minority government wishes to destabalise Zimbabwe after the white minority government of Rhodesia collapsed. Mugabe’s state media begins a smear campaign against Nkomo, who responds, “Nothing in my life has prepared me for persecution at the hands of a government led by black Africans.”

The Bophuthatswana Crisis erupts in this “homeland,” which was created under South Africa's apartheid system as a means of replacing black South Africans' citizenship with citizenship in a tribal “bantustan” (Afrikaans for "black people's place"). The Bophuthatswana military revolts, and street protests demand the territory’s reincorporation into the newly democratic South Africa.

The Kenya Space Agency is established, replacing the Kenya Space Secretariat from the 1960s. Kenya is launching a series of orbital satellites.

For the first time, an African hosts the Grammy Awards ceremony that honours the world’s best recordings and artists. South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts from Los Angeles. The live stream audience that views the show on the Internet is up 83% over the 2020 ceremony.