The Mena House Hotel opens in Cairo, Egypt. Greatly expanded from a private residence along the Nile, it will be continuously decorated by the finest Egyptian artisans. By 1895, the hotel will attract the world's elite as guests and will be popular with European royalty.
Retreating from German East Africa (Tanzania) during World War I, German forces under the command of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck cross the Mozambique border and start to loot supplies from Portuguese garrisons there.
Tourists visiting the Zambezi River waterfall Mosi-oa-Tunya (called Victoria Falls by Europeans) may now take the trip from the Victoria Falls Hotel on human-powered tramcars (pushed by two local men from the Leya community).
Italian forces from Eritrea enter Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to protect an Italian fort that was built three years ago 81 km inside Ethiopia. When Ethiopia demands the fort’s removal, skirmishes will break out (December 5-7 1934). The fighting will be used by Italy as an excuse to begin the military conquest of Ethiopia in 1935.
Just 11 days after it is opened, the Van Stadens Bridge in Eastern Cape, South Africa, becomes known as “The Bridge of Death” when the first of dozens of suicidal people leaps to his death from the span and down into the Van Stadens River. In 2013, a wire mesh pedestrian barrier will be erected to hinder jumpers.
The Tanzanian army recaptures much of the country’s northwest that has been occupied by an invading Ugandan army. Ugandan dictator Idi Amin tries to save face by claiming he is making a voluntary withdraw out of respect for international concern over the conflict. Tanzania exposes the lie by reporting the fighting and resistance of Ugandan troops.
Benjamin Mpaka is sworn in as Tanzania’s third president.
Three men hijack an Ethiopian Airlines plane and demand to be flown to Australia, despite the captain’s plea that the jet hasn’t sufficient fuel. The pilot's heroic effort to land the plane at Comoros when fuel runs out results in a dramatic ocean landing filmed by a tourist on the beach. Only 50 of the 175 passengers and crew survive.
Founded as a Marxist state, Angola joins the international economic system, becoming a member of the World Bank. The Angolan Civil War is now in its 21st year. (pic: Luanda)
Terrorists with the Somalia-based Islamic al-Shabaab highjack a bus in Kenya, separate non-Muslim passengers and kill 28. Government reports that al-Shabaab’s goal is to start a religious war.
The National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo is opened to the public, in Kinshasa. Dedicated by DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, the large facility will draw back to their place of origin generations of Congolese cultural artifacts stolen by European colonialists and now scattered around the world.
Egypt’s Chief Engineer of Public Works, in Lorient, France. A noted artist and explorer, he located several ancient Egyptian and Sudanese monuments. The Chief Engineer on the Suez Canal, he founded the Suez Canal Company that constructed and ran the canal.
Nigerian singer and songwriter, in Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. Singing Afro-pop in Igbo, the drummer/pianist’s first album N’bania, in 2005, was a local hit. His second album, 2010’s Uplifted, was a national hit. His third album in 2012, Blessed, brought him international stardom.
