On December 18th 1961, The Lion Sleeps Tonight hit number one on the Billboard Charts. It was an instant classic that endured to become one of the most successful pop songs of all time. Few realise, however, that its true originator saw only a minuscule portion of the song's massive profits. The story began in … Continue reading December 18 1961 “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” reaches number 1
Tag: Africa
November 6 1962 UN condemns apartheid
On November 6th 1962, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning South Africa's racist apartheid policies and calling on all its members to end economic and military relations with the country. In effect from 1948 to 1993, apartheid, which comes from the Afrikaans word for "apartness," was government-sanctioned racial segregation and political and … Continue reading November 6 1962 UN condemns apartheid
September 22 1828 Shaka Zulu assassinated
On September 22nd 1828, Shaka, founder of the Zulu Kingdom of southern Africa, was murdered by his two half-brothers, Dingane and Mhlangana, after Shaka's mental illness threatened to destroy the Zulu tribe. When Shaka became chief of the Zulus in 1816, the tribe numbered fewer than 1,500 and was among the smaller of the hundreds … Continue reading September 22 1828 Shaka Zulu assassinated
August 28 1879 Zulu king captured
On August 28th 1879, King Cetshwayo, the last great ruler of Zululand, was captured by the British following his defeat in the British-Zulu War. He was subsequently sent into exile. Cetshwayo's defiance of British rule in southern Africa led to Britain's invasion of Zululand in 1879. In 1843, Britain succeeded the Boers as the rulers … Continue reading August 28 1879 Zulu king captured
July 26 1847 Liberian independence proclaimed
On July 26th 1847, the Republic of Liberia, formerly a colony of the American Colonisation Society, declared its independence. Under pressure from Britain, the United States hesitantly accepted Liberian sovereignty, making the West African nation the first democratic republic in African history. A constitution modelled after the U.S. Constitution was approved, and in 1848 Joseph … Continue reading July 26 1847 Liberian independence proclaimed
July 13 1985 Live Aid concert
On July 13th 1985, at Wembley Stadium in London, Prince Charles and Princess Diana officially opened Live Aid, a worldwide rock concert organised to raise money for the relief of famine-stricken Africans. Continued at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and at other arenas around the world, the 16-hour "superconcert" was globally linked by satellite to more … Continue reading July 13 1985 Live Aid concert
July 2 1839 Mutiny on the Amistad slave ship
On July 2nd 1839, early in the morning, Africans on the Cuban schooner Amistad rose up against their captors, killing two crewmembers and seizing control of the ship, which had been transporting them to a life of slavery on a sugar plantation at Puerto Principe, Cuba. In 1807, the U.S. Congress joined with Great Britain … Continue reading July 2 1839 Mutiny on the Amistad slave ship
Craig Hill 