1 – 7 NovemberHaile Selassie is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, Rommel is reported to be in full retreat from El Alamein, and Nelson Mandela is sentenced to five years. ... Read More

During the 1941–1942 tug of war for North Africa, the British benefited from radio-intercept-derived Ultra information. Despite that Allied advantage, however, for six months and 11 days the Germans enjoyed ... Read More

25 – 31 OctoberTranskei becomes the first black homeland, or Bantustan, to be given independence in South Africa; Muhammad Ali defeats George Foreman in world heavyweight championship, Zaire; Montgomery and ... Read More

Transparency International has published its 2004 report on corruption. So, how do African countries fare? Botswana tops the list with its rank as the 31st least corrupt country in the ... Read More

18 – 24 OctoberJomo Kenyatta, president of the Kenyan African Union is arrested in Kenya, Nelson Mandela pleads "not guilty" to charges of "incitement and leaving South Africa illegally" at ... Read More

So just who was the Johan that Johannesburg was named after when the city was founded in 1886? It seems there are several contenders. Find out who they are...

What is now Soweto, SOuth-WEstern TOwnships, became a destination for thousands of black South Africans during the Apartheid era. The original Klipspruit location (present day Pimville) 13 km from Johannesburg was ... Read More

How good would you be at trivia questions about Johannesburg (aka Joburg or Egoli)? For example, did you know it's home to the tallest office block in Africa (the 50-storey ... Read More

In yet another step in Libya's change from pariah state to a functioning member of the international community, the European Union has voted to lift its weapons sanctions against Libya, ... Read More

11 – 17 OctoberSoweto's original Klipspruit location (present day Pimville) 13 km from Johannesburg is established, Walter Sisulu and eight other South African nationalists are freed from jail, and Anwar ... Read More

The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Wangari Maathai, "for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace." Maathai is the first African women ever to win the ... Read More

In his 'Letter from the President' (published on the ANC's web site, ANC Today Volume 4, No. 39, 1—7 October 2004) South African President Thabo Mbeki once again implied that ... Read More

A report on the Guardian Unlimited website describes the claim by UCL's Institute of Archaeology researcher Dr Okasha El Daly that "Arabian scholars broke the code a thousand years ago." ... Read More

4 – 10 OctoberThe Kingdom of Lesotho (previously known as Basutoland) achieves independence (within the Commonwealth), economic sanctions against South Africa are lifted by the United Nations, and President Muhammad ... Read More

The British colonial government in Kenya enact emergency measures to combat the growing threat from the Mau Mau. Find out more from the Mau Mau Rebellion Timeline.