The Komenda Wars begun in 1694 between British and Dutch trading interests over control of the Gold Coast (Ghana) sees Britain’s first major victory. Forces led by John Cabess defeat the warriors of the Twifo people, who have aligned themselves with the Dutch. An African known by his English name, Cabess, represents Britain’s Royal African Company. He started the war over a dispute with the Dutch West India Company that is trading along the coast. When he was a boy, Cabess’ father committed suicide rather than being taken captive by the Dutch when they were fighting Britain in the 1660s. After four separate wars, Britain will eventually gain control of the Komenda region. Cabess will become enormously wealthy and politically powerful as a “merchant prince.” He will facilitate the start of the Atlantic Slave Trade. As a symbol of his power, he will be given his own stool (throne). (pic: Fort Komenda)

The Sultan Khalifah bin Said of Zanzibar is pressured by the German fleet sent to his country into signing a treaty with the German East Africa Company, giving them administrative control of the Tanganyika mainland.

The Hut Tax Wars erupt in Sierra Leone as two separate rebellions in the north and south. Both are revolts against British colonial rule. The bloody Mende war in the south is a coordinated attack that began yesterday (27 April), aimed at white and creole people. After the rainy season, this revolt will be put down by the British by October. Northern rebels who use guerilla tactics against the British will not be fully subdued until November.

The East African Broadcasting Service begins the region’s first radio broadcasts. The service repeats transmissions from the British Broadcasting Company, and is aimed solely at English farmers and settlers who desire news from home and world news. Broadcasts in Swahili will not begin until 1953.

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Fleeing the Rwandan genocide, 200,000 people cross the Rusumo Bridge into Tanzania in 24 hours: “The largest and fastest refugee exodus in modern times.”

Egypt launches its first satellite, the NileSat 1 communications satellite.

Swaziland (Eswatini) leads the world with its high HIV prevalence rate. More than a quarter of the population is HIV positive. Polygamy is legal in Eswatini, and preventive measures like condoms are disdained by Swazis.

In the small, impoverished Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini), 34% of population engages in sex for money, finds a government Central Statistics Office/World Bank survey of Swazi household incomes. The average transaction is US$23.50.

The Great Pyramid of Cairo, Egypt has been illuminated at night by coloured and laser lights to delight tourists for decades, but tonight the tomb is used for messaging about the Covid-19 pandemic, which is sweeping the world.