The Battle of Ridanya in Egypt ends with a victory for the Ottoman Empire against the Mamluks, who have ruled Egypt since 1250. The Turks now march on Cairo.

Total eclipse of the sun seen over eastern South Africa is named the “Zulu War Eclipse” because it occurs during the South African conflict between the Zulu Kingdom and the British Natal colony. The eclipse begins exactly at 2:29 pm.

Zulu warriors decisively defeat British forces from South Africa’s Natal colony at the Battle of Isandlwana. The British invasion of Zululand is stopped, and the Anglo-Zulu War of British conquest is set-back as Britain suffers its worst defeat by an indigenous army fighting with vastly inferior weapons (spears and cowhide shields against rifles, cannons and rockets). Up to 3,000 Zulu warriors are killed, but they manage to kill 1,300 British soldiers. Zulu King Cetshwayo will seek a negotiated settlement, but is rejected by the British, who will seek revenge by importing a larger, more-powerfully equipped invasion force.

The First Matebele War comes to an end in Matebeleland (Zimbabwe) upon the death from smallpox of Ndebele King Lobengula (pic). The Ndebele indvuna, the highest official under the king, seeks peace from the British South Africa Company, which Britain’s Queen Victoria granted the right to administer the territory. Thousands of Ndebele warriors armed only with spears have been killed by British machine-guns. In London, a parliamentary inquiry accuses the company of provoking the Ndebele into war for the purpose of acquiring their land.

Ghana independence leader Kwame Nkrumah is arrested for leading a general strike. He is sentenced by British colonial authorities to three years imprisonment and is to serve his time with common criminals. Nkrumah’s newspaper, the Accra Evening News, is banned.

A State of Emergency is imposed in Mauritius by British authorities less than two months before the British colony will become an independent state. A political power struggled between the Christian Creole and Muslim communities prior to Independence has erupted in violent clashes that take 29 lives.

Nigeria’s worst air disaster occurs when a Boeing 707 chartered by Nigeria Airways crashes while attempting a landing in high winds at Kano International Airport in Lagos. 176 of the 202 passengers and crew on board are killed. (pic: a man attempts to open the door of the crashed airliner with a stone)

Kenya Airways is founded, wholly owned by the Kenyan government. In 1996, the airline will be the first state air service to be successfully privatised.

During the Ogadan War with Somalia, Ethiopian forces begin a counter-offensive against Somali forces that have invaded the country. Cuban troops fight with Ethiopia, which is also aided by the Soviet Union.

South African liberation hero Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s last apartheid regime president F.W. De Klerk are jointly awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize.

Water begins to flow to South Africa from Africa’s largest dam project, the Katse Dam in Lesotho, as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The dam, the deepest in Africa, was completed in 1996, and the reservoir was filled in 1997. 20,000 people lost their homes and livelihoods to make way for the dam, and plans to replace these are incomplete. The large-scale public works project has also been plagued by corruption.

After two-days of national prayers, Liberia experiences its first peaceful transfer of power in 74 years, with this last occurring in 1944. Former champion soccer player turned politician George Weah (pic: right) is sworn in as President, replacing President Ellen Sirleaf (pic: left).