The British surveying ship the HMS Beagle makes the first stop of its expedition, arriving on Santiago Island in the Cabo Verde archipelago. On board is Charles Darwin, age 22. Darwin spends 21 days on the island doing geological work.  Encountering a band of limestone exposed on a cliff and containing marine fossils that are now high above sea level, he sees evidence that the Earth formed through a geological evolutionary process, contrary to the current scientific belief that the planet formed through a series of cataclysms. On his return visit in 1836, Darwin will begin applying the the theory of evolutionary development to animal species.

The Sand River Convention in Potchefstroom in South Africa gives Boer farmers north of the Vaal River self-governance without interference from Britain. The agreement allows the establishment of the Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek (ZAR) or South African Republic. The new country’s land was seized from indigenous South African peoples, whose interests were not considered during the treaty's negotiations.

Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, publishes the book The War in South Africa: It’s Cause and Conduct, about the conflict in which he served as a volunteer doctor in 1900. He reports that more British soldiers died of disease (14,000) during the Second Anglo-Boer War than were killed in combat (8,000).

Torrigiani Cannery is opened near Asmara, Italian Eritrea, by 14 local chiefs, the colonial governor and dozens of dignitaries – separate tents for Christians and Muslims are set up for the feast to ensure dietary rules are followed – celebrating a new era for the Horn of Africa’s livestock industry. Italian Lira 400,000 (equal to US$2.4 million in 2024) has been spent on the state of the art meat canning plant that will provide the area with a new export product just in time to meet demand when World War I breaks out in a few months.

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135,000 African soldiers of the French Army’s Tirailleurs Sénégalais are fighting in World War I after a major recruitment drive in the French colonies. Casualties are high – 30,000 African men are killed fighting for France during the war – and none are prepared for the harsh European winter. However, the unit is praised for its dedication, morale and effectiveness.

Spencer Airlines, which services Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) offers free one-way flights from England to 16 married former British soldiers who wish to relocate and settle in Rhodesia. (pic: Salisbury – later renamed Harare)

The Federal Military Government of Nigeria begins its 13-year rule, headed by Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.

South African acapella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, formed in 1964, releases its first album, Amabutho. It will be the first African album to achieve Gold Record status (25,000 sold).

An experimental high-speed commuter train, the MetroBlitz, begins operations between Johannesburg and Pretoria, replacing the Jacaranda Express. The service is groundbreaking, but lasts only one year.

Senegal hosts the 18th Africa Cup of Nations. With participating teams expanded to 12, Côte d’Ivoire wins its first championship, beating Ghana on penalty kicks.

South African’s anti-apartheid organisation the Pan-African Congress suspends its armed struggle, and its guerilla soldiers disarm. Democratic elections are now only months away. (Pic: PAC founder Robert Sobukwe)

U.S. President George Bush travels to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The West considers Egypt as a solid partner in an unstable Middle-East region.

Terrorists linked to al-Qaeda take foreign workers as captives at an oil facility at In Amenas, Algeria. A raid by Algerian Special Forces on 20 January 2013 will free 685 Algerian workers and 107 foreigners. One Algerian and 39 foreigners will be killed, and 29 terrorists.