Arab general Hassan ibn al-Nu'man, following his victory this year over Roman forces occupying Carthage, spends the rest of the year destroying once and for all the fabled city, which was once the capital of the mighty Carthaginian Empire. The city walls are torn down, buildings are reduced to rubble, the water supply is permanently cut off and the harbor is made unnavigable. Rome’s 750-year control of North Africa is replaced with Islamic rule.
In the clear night sky over Cape Colony in South Africa, colony founder Jan van Riebeeck sees and records a comet, which will be classified C/1652 Y1. This is the first comet discovered in Southern Africa, although it is simultaneously spotted by observers in Brazil, where the date is still December 16.
Madagascar officials accept defeat, and sign The Treaty of Peace and Friendship presented to them by France, at Tamatave, Madagascar. This concludes the Franco-Malagasy War. While not yet colonising the island, France gains great influence over Malagasy affairs with the treaty. Madagascar will become a French protectorate in 1890 after Paris and London determine their spheres of influence in East Africa.
South Africa receives a mandate from the League of Nations to take administrative control of German South West Africa (Namibia). South Africa will treat the territory as a province, and later institute apartheid laws of racial segregation and white minority rule.
South African anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu, who was arrested in August, is prohibited from attending any meeting in the country for six months under the Suppression of Communism Act, although he is not a communist.
The number of anti-apartheid activists on trial for treason in Johannesburg, South Africa, is reduced when charges are dropped against Albert Luthuli (pic) and 60 others. Nelson Mandela is among the remaining 95 defendants. If found guilty, the defendants will receive the death penalty.
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower (pic: seated, right) becomes the first U.S. President to visit independent Tunisia, and meets with Tunisia’s first president, President Habib Bourguiba (pic: seated on Eisenhower’s right). The leaders enjoy viewing a photo album.
West Africa’s largest market, the Dantokpa Market, is fully opened in Benin’s capital, Cotonou. In time, the shops and stalls will expand to cover 80,000 square metres.
Kenya’s most luxurious hotel, the InterContinental Nairobi Hotel, is officially opened by President Jomo Kenyatta. A gleaming Mid-Century modern architectural showpiece outside and inside, the five-star hotel is decorated with Kenyan artifacts and artwork, while a bikini-clad young woman carries a baby cheetah around the swimming pool for newspaper photographers.
Rwanda achieves a health milestone by becoming the first African country to provide universal health care. Rwanda is one of the world's few developing countries to do so. 90% of Rwandans are now covered by a community-based health insurance scheme.
A huge new Eritrea mine that will work a large 1.3 billion tonne potash deposit obtains US$150 million funding from Africa Finance Corp. Once producing, the mine will contribute a full 10% to Eritrea's Gross Domestic Product.
The North African dish couscous is added by the U.N. Education & Culture Organisation to its World Intangible Heritage list. The four countries where it is a national dish - Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco & Tunisia - jointly petitioned UNESCO for the recognition
South African writer and one of the driving forces defining the modern African literary movement, in Pretoria, Union of South Africa. The “Father of African Humanism” and “Dean of African Letters” drew international notice with his 1959 autobiography Down Second Avenue that established his humanistic approach to the black African experience, drawing on real life situations and emotions. Protesting the introduction of inferior Bantu Education for black South Africans in the 1950s, he was fired from his teaching post, then banned from teaching in the country altogether. Ultimately, he was forced into exile, where he became a prominent writer and celebrated intellectual.
Algerian political scientist, in Al-Ancer, French Algeria. The first Algerian to earn a PhD in Political Science, he was regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities in that field, as well as in public administration. He was a nationalist activist who promoted the cause of Algerian Independence.
President of Nigeria (2015 to present), in Daura, Nigeria. As a prominent general, he led Nigeria’s military government, and after a period of nation transition to democracy, and was later elected president in legitimate elections.
