After a year’s journey through Southern Africa to the Zambezi River, mostly by foot, British artist Thomas Baines arrives at the destination he seeks to paint: Mosi-oa-Tunya, which his former employer David Livingstone has presumed to re-name Victoria Falls. He makes detailed sketches that he will use as the basis for oil paintings he will make on the return trip to England. A skilled artist, he vividly captures the sensation of falling water and the natural environment. His canvases create a sensation in Europe, and excitement to see the falls – sowing the seeds for future tourism.

In a ruling that significantly shapes the future of Southern Africa, the President of France awards Delagoa Bay to Portugal and dismisses Great Britain’s claim to the area. Britain and Portugal have agreed to allow a neutral arbitrator to settle their dispute. The bay and the port town of Lourenço Marques (Maputo) are incorporated into Portuguese Mozambique.

The British Isles Rugby Union is touring South Africa, its first South African tour and its second overseas tour. Starting on 9 July and ending on 7 September, the Brits are playing 20 games – three Tests against the South Africa National Rugby Union team and 17 provincial games – and will win them all. (pic: British Lions vs Cape Colony team at Cape Town)

Sawt Al-Arab Radio (Voice of the Arabs) begins broadcasting, from Cairo, Egypt. This is the first of three radio services that will include Palestine Radio and Nile Valley Radio. (pic: announcer Ahmed Saeed)

South African anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu is arrested under the Suppression of Communism Act after he leaves the country to visit Communist Eastern Europe, China and the Soviet Union. He has also defied an order not to address meetings in South Africa.

Sudan’s first university, founded in 1902 as Gordon Memorial College and renamed the University College of Khartoum in 1951, is given university status, and renamed the University of Khartoum.

Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba confers with U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld at U.N. headquarters in New York. Lumumba wants U.N. military support against separatist rebels that have started a civil war in DRC. Both Lumumba and Hammarskjöld will die as a result of the DRC crisis' intensification.

In the Egyptian-Libyan War begun three days earlier, Egypt launches a large raid against Tripoli's supply depots and its airbase. Pressure from allies Algeria, the U.S. and the Palestine Liberation Organisation prompts Egypt President Anwar Sadat to declare a ceasefire, which ends the conflict.

“Frank Sinatra Sings for Apartheid” report newspapers as the U.S., as the singing legend defies the U.N. cultural boycott against South Africa and does a week of concerts at the Sun City resort. He ignores U.S. and global human rights activists who pleaded for him not to go on, and accepts payment of US$ 1.79 million (equal to US$4,711,000 in 2022) for his shows. (pic: Sun City performance brochure signed by Sinatra)

In its first gestures at “reforming” racist apartheid policies, South Africa’s government ends the requirement that black South Africans must carry passports to travel in their own country.

The U.N. Special Committee Against Apartheid, now nearing the end of its third decade of work, reports that measures to end apartheid in South Africa are genuine but still in the preliminary stage.

Municipal elections are held for the first time in Niger’s history for communities to choose their local representatives. Up until today, local officials have been appointed by the central government.

U.S. President Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit Kenya. (pic: with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta on right). He attends the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at the U.N. complex. This is the symbolic visit that Africa has been awaiting. Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., was Kenyan. Obama made private visits to Kenya in 1988 and 2006.

South Africa-based Zimbabwean Tatenda Mungofa receives a license to produce one of Africa’s first locally-made cars, the Prim8, which he designed. The maker is Murezo Auto, which he co-owns with the SAIPA Group, one of Iran’s largest carmakers.