The Mamluk Dynasty's rule of Egypt is nearing its centennial mark as the 18th Mamluk Sultan, As-Salih Ismail, begins his reign. He restores political stability to the country after a period of palace intrigue, but to do so he has to kill his two predecessors, both of whom are his brothers, to curtail any further intrigue.
Lewanika, the Litunga (king) of Barotseland (Zambia), signs an agreement to receive British protection against internal unrest in his kingdom, in exchange for Britain receiving his kingdom's mineral rights. However, Lewanika is being deceived. An agent of Cecil Rhodes, the British adventurer seeking to control all of Southern African to exploit its diamonds and minerals, lies to Lewanika that he represents the British government. Lewanika gives the “agent” two of the largest elephant tusks ever found in his kingdom as a present to Queen Victoria. They will go directly to Rhodes’ company boardroom, where the directors will plot the mining of Barotseland. Lewanika will eventually travel to England to complain about the deception and the exploitation of his land, but he will be ignored by the British government.
The electrification of Cairo, Egypt that began in 1898 continues, and the city’s most prestigious hotel, the Mena House Hotel, has all floors and public rooms illuminated by electricity. The electricity is also used to power Egypt’s first elevator, at the hotel.
The practice of indentured servitude in British Nigeria draws criticism from British liberals, who describe the system as “domestic slavery for which we are directly responsible” that makes a mockery of Britain’s 19th Century work to eradicate slavery in Africa. Confronting Britain’s Secretary of State for the Colonies, an MP in 1913 will submit, “The slave is the possession of the master. He is a slave by birth, and has no freedom to enter into contracts and no liberty of marriage. (The British) Government is still used to recapture, arrest, and take part in restoring runaway domestic slaves.” However, critics of this system do not suggest an end to colonialism.
The power of South Africa’s president to declare organisations unlawful is strengthened with the General Law Amendment Act. Anti-apartheid activists may now be banned from having contact with more than one person at a time. Also going into effect is the Terrorism Act (Sabotage Act) that defines almost all criminal acts as acts of terror, making it easier to jail dissenters, who can now be indefinitely detained.
Djibouti achieves national independence, from France. The capital is Djibouti City. The national population is 277,472.
27 year-old Barack Obama, future U.S. President, visits Kenya, the country of his father Barack Obama Sr. He seeks out his ancestral village, and connects with his extended family.
With democracy established in South Africa and apartheid a thing of the past, the U.N. Security Council congratulates the country, and announces that the South Africa issue is no longer an item of concern and that it is removed from the U.N. agenda.
South Africa President Thabo Mbeki travels to the U.S. on a working visit. He meets with U.S. President George Bush.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the African Union’s Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme, AU member states meeting in Equatorial Guinea sign the Malambo Declaration. The treaty commits AU members to prioritise agriculture in national development agendas, end hunger and triple intra-African trade in agricultural goods and services by 2025.
Ghanaian playwright, director, author and educationalist, in Cape Coast, Gold Coast. Her work in the arts advanced her advocacy for children’s welfare and cultural activism. A Pan-Africanist, she collaborated with the great artists of her time in Africa and among the African Diaspora.
South African musician, in Johannesburg, Union of South Africa. “The father of South African Jazz” brought jazz music to new heights artistically and in popularity, not only with his own work as a saxophonist but through the many musical giants he influenced, like Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba.
Nigerian diplomat and minister, in Liverpool, England. As Nigeria’s Minister of the Environment, she was part of the international effort to craft the U.N.’s global development agenda. From 2017 through the present she has been the U.N. Deputy Secretary-General.
