642
The start of the 22nd year of the Hijira in the Muslim world (which ends 18 November 643). Preparations are underway for the Muslim conquest of Tripoli. Within months, the city-state will be ruled by dynasties based in Cairo, Egypt.
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642
1882
The London Times, usually a voice of racist colonialism, prints a tribute to Sekhukhune, the assassinated leader of South Africa’s Pedi nation, whom Britain was only able to conquer with the assistance of the Swazi nation: “We hear this morning of the death of one of the bravest of our former enemies, the Chief Sekhukhune. The news carries us some years back to the time when the name of Sekhukhune was a name of dread, first to the Dutch and then to the English Colonists of the Transvaal and Natal.”
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1882
1921
Tourist season begins in Egypt, and the number of visitors to see ancient wonders rises with the introduction of three steamships introduced by the Cook & Son on the Nile River. The PS Sudan and her two sister ships cut the journey from Cairo to Aswan to 20 days. In 1933, British mystery writer Agatha Christie will voyage on the Sudan, and use it as the setting for her best-selling thriller Death on the Nile. The ship will be used for luxury cruises in the 21st century.
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1921
1965
Under pressure, the parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo yields most of its legislative powers to the country’s ruler Mobutu Sese Seko.
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1965
1974
Republic of Dahomey (Benin) coup d’état leader Lt. Col. Mathieu Kèrékou declares the country is now a Marxist state, under the control of the Military Council of the Revolution.
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1974
1975
The Republic of Dahomey changes its name to Benin. Under the policies of young reformist revolutionaries, the government has sought to eradicate tribal divisions and influences. Benin is a politically neutral name, replacing Dahomey, which was associated with the country’s largest ethnic group, the Fon. Ethnic tension in the country was established by the French, who favoured the Fon during France’s colonial rule.
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1975
1976
The ruling party of Madagascar changes its name to the Malagasy Revolutionary Party. The party will continue to control government until 1992 with a manifesto adhering to Marxism-Leninism. (pic: Antananarivo)
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1976
1999
The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community is signed by member states. This is the second attempt to organise a regional body that was first founded by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and lasted from 1967 to 1978.
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1999
2001
The release of Mr. Bones, a raucous slapstick comedy co-written and starring Leon Schuster. The audience favourite will become South Africa’s highest grossing motion picture.
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2001
2011
The East African Community rejects Sudan’s membership application because of Sudanese ruler Omar Bashir’s dictatorship and the ill-treatment of women in the country.
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2011
2015
Pope Francis becomes the second Roman Catholic pope to visit a mosque, when he meets the Muslim community of the Central African Republic. The Mosque of Koudoukou in Bangui hosts a meeting that takes place despite heightened security concerns. Overall, security concerns made this African trip one of the most perilous of his papacy.
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2015
Births
1934
Lansana Conté
Guinean military official and second President of Guinea (1984-2008), in Dubréka, French Guinea. He took power by leading a coup d’état. While superficially transitioning Guinea from a military to civilian government, and winning the democratic election in 1993, he ruled as an authoritarian, surviving coups d’état, committing human rights abuses, running a corrupt government, and rigging a constitutional referendum to stay in power until his death.
1937
Mahlathini (Simon Nkabinde)
South African singer whose deep growling bass voice defined the style of mbaqanga music, in Newcastle, Union of South Africa. “The Lion of Soweto” had his greatest success in the 1960s and 1970s, and went international in the 1990s when mbaqanga music experienced a revival.
1943
John Kani
South African actor and playwright, in New Brighton, Eastern Cape, Union of South Africa. Returning to South Africa from the American success of his anti-apartheid play Sizwe Banzi is Dead, which he co-wrote and co-acted with Athol Fugard, he was abducted by South African police, beaten and left for dead. Amongst his movie roles, he played T’Chaka, the father of the African superhero in Black Panther.
1944
Christian Ashley-Botha
South African choirmaster, in Mossel Bay, Union of South Africa. Taking the position as Director of Music in 1980 at the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School, then only four years old, he created an acclaimed singing ensemble that became one of the most widely-traveled choirs in the world. Opposed to the white minority government’s racist apartheid policies, he brought the chorus to Robben Island in 1984 to sing for Nelson Mandela, who had been imprisoned there for 20 years, but were turned away by the authorities. He was finally able to segregate the school in 1988 with the admission of Zwai Bala, and later Bala’s two younger brothers, who became the acclaimed singing group The Bala Brothers.
