King’s College, which will grow into one of the U.S.’ most prestigious educational institutions, Columbia University, is founded in New York City by Philip Livingston. More than any New York merchant, Livingston has profited from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and he uses his wealth created by enslaved Africans to establish the college. One century from now, the university will unknowingly receive its first black student, James Parker Barnett, who will study at Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. After two years of study, in 1850 he will be exposed as a light-skinned African-American “passing” for white, and will be “Expelled for African Blood”. The university will integrate in the 20^th century.

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The Suppression of the Slave Trade Treaty between the U.S. and U.K. has been ratified by the U.S. Congress and British Parliament. These ratifications, presented in London today, officially puts in force the act that seeks to end the Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans once and for all, through the combined efforts of both countries.

Mombasa and its valuable East African port are taken over by the British East Africa Association (which will later be re-named the Imperial British East Africa Company). British colonial government administration will take over in 1895. Mombasa will then become the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate (Kenya and Uganda).

Evidence is established of “pawning” – the giving of persons to others to use as laborers in exchange for a loan – and this will be used in a 1930 investigation of slavery in Liberia. A receipt written today testifies: “This is to certify that I Sidi Weah at Gbowah Section have pawned one girl and one boy to Sergeant Johnny Williams until the amount thirteen pounds ten shillings sterling which I due him be pay (sic) to him.”

The Organisation of African Unity is launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Pan-African organisation begins with 32 African countries as member nations. (pic: Presidents Modibo Keita of Mali, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sekou Toure of Guinea)

Bazaruto National Park is established in Mozambique, covering the Bazaruto Archipelago’s six islands and creating one of East Africa’s most extensive protected oceanic environments. The white sand beaches will become Mozambique’s main tourist attraction, while coral reefs teaming with a diversity of sea life are preserved.

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The first London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Race concludes, with only 19 cars finishing the race of 70 that started over the most difficult terrain ever featured in an international rally event. Of these, only five cars complete the full rally distance of 19,300 km. A majority of cars got lost in the Algerian desert.

The PanAfrican News Service, PanaPress, begins service. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the agency has regional offices in Kinshasa, Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo), Khartoum, Sudan; Lusaka, Zambia; Lagos, Nigeria and Tripoli, Libya, and provides an intra-African alternative to Western news agency reportage of the continent.

The final U.N. Sanction put in place against South Africa’s apartheid regime is lifted, as the U.N. Security Council votes to end an Arms Embargo instituted in 1977.

In Sierra Leone, an Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, made up of 17 military officers stage a coup d’état, using 600 prisoners freed from Pademba Road Prison in Freetown. President Ahmad Kabbah (pic) flees to Guinea. His administration will still be recognised as Sierra Leone’s legitimate government by the U.N. and the African Union. The coup leaders will suspend the constitution, ban civil liberties, close private radio stations, and allow unchecked looting and attacks on civilians by soldiers and rebels. A force from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be assembled, with soldiers from Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo, to restore order and reinstate Kabbah. Civil war will continue until 2001, causing 50,000 deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

Students at the University of Lomé riot over poor living conditions and a new academic system. The rioting will worsen until May 27, when the university is closed by Togo’s authorities. Negotiations with students will result in government acknowledging their needs in July, and a commitment to financing a university upgrade.

As rising incomes bring more Africans into the middle and upper classes, active traditional lifestyles and balanced diets are replaced with modern sedentary lifestyles and junk food diets, leading to an epidemic of obesity, reports the World Health Organisation. Obesity, “the disease of affluence,” can lead to heart ailements, strokes and other illnesses. Ghana is worst affected, with over a quarter of the population recorded as clinically obese.

French/Senegalese actor/director Mati Diop is the first black female director to be in contention at the Cannes Film Festival for the Palme d'Or, the highest award given by the world’s foremost film festival. The movie she directed, Atlantics, wins the Grand Prix award.