The exhibition of English painter J.M.W. Turner’s masterpiece Slave Ship sparks debate at London’s Royal Academy of Arts. The large canvas recounts the voyage of the slave ship Zong when the captain ordered 132 enslaved Africans thrown alive into the sea to save drinking water and to collect insurance for their deaths. (pic: detail of the painting showing chains and hands in the sea). Acknowledging the painting’s power, some critics argue that human tragedy was exploited by the artist.

The Cape Colony House of Assembly is illuminated with electric lights. Edison incandescent lamps are installed at the Banqueting Hall of the Cape of Good Hope Lodge where the legislature meets. The Cape Times will report, “The House was illuminated by the beautifully bright and steady glow of the forty-four lights placed along the walls. There was a large attendance of the public in the House, and much satisfaction was expressed alike by members and spectators with the effect produced by the bright, soft and penetrating light.”

The movie Congorilla is released, directed by and featuring the husband and wife team Martin and Osa Johnson. In Europe since the 1920s, they have been popular “adventurers.” The movie both admires Central Africa’s grandeur and wildlife, while mocking both at the same time. In one scene that American audiences find hilarious, the Johnsons give cigars to a village of pygmies, who choke on the smoke. (pic: Osa Johnson does a publicity shot holding in front of a dead rhino women's magazine that sponsored that 1921 trip)

With South Africa becoming a republic in order to pursue its apartheid policies of white racial domination without interference from Britain, a State President is required as ceremonial head of government. The all-white Parliament elects Charles Robberts Swart, previously South Africa's Governor-General under the pre-Republic political system.

Race riots break out in British Mauritius as Creole gangs attack Muslims. A police constable is one of the deaths resulting. Fear that the islands’ small police force cannot cope with widespread civil disturbances leads to the declaration of a State of Emergency to restrict people’s movements. This will last until the end of the year.

Nelson Mandela is sworn in as the first democratically elected president in South Africa’s history. Countries that have shunned South Africa’s apartheid regime for decades establish diplomatic ties with Pretoria today: Algeria, Iran, Morocco, Namibia, Qatar, Sudan and Zambia. Canada announces trade benefits for South Africa; Australia announces aid to assist victims of apartheid. The European Union announces it will invest US$210 million in South Africa in 1994 alone.

The porter who accompanied the first Europeans to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro in 1889, Tanzanian Yohani Kinyala Lauwo, dies at age 107. In 1989, his role in the historic Meyer and Purtscheller climb was established in pictures and documents. He told interviewers he was barefoot when he made the climb, and climbed the mountain at least two times afterward.

Construction begins in Morocco on the world’s largest solar energy array, the Noor 1. When Phase I goes on-line in 2016, it will generate 160MW of power.

The Kazungula Bridge opens, connecting Botswana and Zambia for the first time, over the Zambezi River. The borders of Namibia and Zimbabwe also meet at this spot, and the bridge is curved to avoid entering their territories.

This is the first International Day of Argan, as proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly on 3 March of this year. The thorny large Argan tree grows only in portions of Algeria and Morocco, lives 200 years, and is important to the economies of local people as a source of timber, oil and fuel.

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