Word of the Day: “No shortcuts exist to the top of a palm tree.” – African Proverb

Today in history in 2000, “The 22nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is the first to be hosted by two countries: Nigeria and Tunisia. Cameroon wins its third Cup championship.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/13-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 13 2024).

Word of the Day: “Restless feet may walk into a snake pit.” – Gabon Proverb

Today in history in 2012, “For the first time, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon host the Africa Cup of Nations. The games of the Cup’s 28th edition are split between the countries. After a dramatic penalty shootout against Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia wins the title. Zambia’s Christopher Katongo is awarded Best Player.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/12-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 12 2024).

Word of the Day: “Once you find your first diamond, you never give up looking.” – South African Proverb

Today in history in 1990, “Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years and eight months for opposing South Africa’s apartheid regime. 18 of these years were spent on Robben Island.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/11-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 11, 2024).

Word of the Day: “The cattle is as good as the pasture in which it grazes.” – Gabon Proverb

Today in history in 1722, “Black Bart (Bartholomew Roberts), a feared Welsh pirate, is shot as his ship tries to avoid capture by a British Royal Navy ship, and dies off the coast of Cape Lopez (Gabon). For three years, he has terrorized the coast of West Africa and the Americas, and taken 400 ships. He flew one of the first Skull and Crossbones flags, and was considered a mythical person for his exploits. However, he murdered 80 enslaved Africans when the caption of the ship transporting them refused to surrender, and he burned the vessel.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/10-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 10, 2024).

Word of the Day: “If an enemy learns your dance, he/she dances it the crooked way.” – Eritrean Proverb

Today in history in 2018, “Shannon-Obgnai Abeda becomes the first athlete to compete for Eritrea in a winter Olympics, in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The alpine skier in the Giant Slalom was born in Canada when his Eritrean parents fled oppression. Eritrea’s country team has only one member, so Abeda carries Eritrea’s flag in the Olympics opening parade.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/09-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 09, 2024).

Word of the Day: “He who digs a grave for his enemy might as well be digging one for himself.” – African Proverb

Today in history in 1926, “Historian and founder of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, Carter G. Woodson, an American born of enslaved Africans, creates Negro History Week as a means to inspire new historical research on the U.S.’ African Diaspora. The name will change to Black History Week, and eventually evolve into an annual observation that designates February as Black History Month.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/07-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 07, 2024).

Word of the Day: “When you bite indiscriminately, you end up eating your own tail.” – Zulu Proverb

Today in history in 1840, “Mpande is recognized as the undisputed King of the Zulus, after his military victory over his brother King Dingane. Fleeing to Swaziland, Dingane is murdered there. Mpande then steals 36,000 of Dingane’s cattle.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/06-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 06, 2024).

Word of the Day: “An elephant’s tusks are never too heavy for it.” – Zimbabwean Proverb

Today in history in 1957, “The official opening of Salisbury (Harare) Airport, in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). The airport has been built by the government of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/05-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 05, 2024).

Word of the Day: “He who has head has no cap. He who has cap has no head.” – Nigerian Proverb

Today in history in 211, “The reign ends of the only Emperor of the ancient Roman Empire to be born in Africa. Septimius Severus dies of an illness while on a military mission to consolidate Rome’s power in Britain. He previously fortified Rome’s colonies in Africa, strengthening the southern boundaries.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/04-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 04, 2024).

Word of the Day: “Seeing is better than hearing.” – Nigerian Proverb

Today in history in 1977, “The City of Abuja is founded as Nigeria’s future capital. Construction and road building crews are at work on the location that will replace Lagos as capital in 1991.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/03-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 03, 2024).

Word of the Day: “Whoever is patient with a cowrie shell will one day have thousands of them.” – Nigerian Proverb

Today in history in 1956, “On her first tour of Africa since becoming Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s monarch spends 20 days in Nigeria, a British colony. Today at Kaduna Airport, she inspects a regiment given a new name for the occasion: the Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/02-feb

News highlights from Africa and beyond (February 02, 2024).

Word of the Day: “Looking up, the tallest and the shortest person will see the skies at the same time.” – Liberia Proverb

Today in history in 1856, “Stephen Allen Benson becomes Liberia’s second president after a career trajectory typical of the leaders of the new country, who all held multiple positions. He had been Liberia’s Vice President and Secretary of the Treasury, as well as a Methodist minister, successful merchant and judge.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/31-jan

News highlights from Africa and beyond (January 31, 2024).

Word of the Day: “A dying man does not cry because he is going to a place he knows nothing about, but because of the things he wishes he’d done in the world he is about to leave behind.” – South African Proverb

Today in history in 1958, “A South African High Court Judge rules there is sufficient evidence to charge Nelson Mandela and 94 other anti-apartheid activists with High Treason, a capital offense. The defendants all plead not guilty, and are released on bail, although their request for a jury trial is denied.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/30-jan

News highlights from Africa and beyond (January 30, 2024).

Word of the Day: “Better to stumble with toe than tongue.” – Tanzanian Proverb

Today in history in 1967, “With the Arusha Declaration, Tanzania affirms its commitment to self-reliance under President Julius Nyerere’s socialist vision of the country.” – Source: https://www.africatodayyesterday.org/days/29-jan

News highlights from Africa and beyond (January 29, 2024).