Portuguese explorers Antam Gonclaves and Nuno Tristao reach Cape Bianco, becoming the first recorded Europeans to visit sub-Saharan Africa’s West Coast. They return to Portugal with a bag of gold dust and twelve local people seized by the crew not as slaves but to show Portugal’s Prince Henry (pic), who financed their voyage. The Africans are simply called “blacks” in Portuguese (“Negroes”). The word Negro will become the accepted word for black people from Africa in Europe and elsewhere in the world until the 1960s.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade has been enormously profitable for England, France and Portugal during the 18th century now ending, with 90% of enslaved Africans transported to the Americas by these three countries. Half of all enslaved African moved on this route during the 400 years of the Transatlantic Slave Trade were transported in the 18th century.

His rebellion against South Africa to create an independent Afrikaner homeland now failed, uprising leader General Manie Maritz flees to Germany’s colony South West Africa to escape imprisonment.

Liberia’s President Daniel Edward Howard signs into law a proclamation that 24 August as a new national holiday Flag Day, in honour of the national symbol adopted this day in 1847. In 2023, Liberia's flag will be the second most-flown flag on the world’s oceans behind Panama’s flag; used as a “flag of convenience” by ships registered in Liberia.

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The release of Jim Comes to Jo’burg (aka African Jim), one of South Africa’s first feature-length movies and the first to star an all-black cast. Written and directed by Donald Swanson, it makes a star of singer Dorothy Radebe.

Zambia achieves national independence, from Britain. Kenneth Kaunda becomes the first President. The capital is Lusaka. The national population is 3,463,000.

On a round-the-world Goodwill Trip three months after their moon landing, the first in human history, the U.S. astronauts Mike Collins, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin make their only stop in Africa, to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Cabo Verde’s delegates to the U.N. inform the world body that it is incorrect to translate the name of the country into Cape Verde, because the country’s name should not be translated. In all documents, maps and mentions, the country must be called by its acctual name, Cabo Verde.

In Botswana, it's that time to paint large eyes on the rear ends of cattle. Researchers found this discourages lions and other predators who hunt by sneaking up on cows, counting on the element of surprise. If they think they're being seen, lions abandon the hunt.