African Diaspora
55 facts
Ghana Becomes Independent
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from European colonial rule, with Kwame Nkrumah as its leader.
Nelson Mandela Released from Prison
Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in South Africa after 27 years of imprisonment.
Haitian Revolution Begins
The Haitian Revolution, the only successful large-scale slave revolt in history, began with an uprising in Saint-Domingue.
Haiti Declares Independence
Haiti became the first Black republic and the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere after a successful slave revolution.
South Africa Holds First Democratic Election
South Africa held its first fully democratic election, with Nelson Mandela winning the presidency.
Nelson Mandela Dies
Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid hero and first Black president of South Africa, died at age 95.
Marcus Garvey Born
Pan-Africanist leader Marcus Garvey was born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica.
Slave Trade Abolished in British Empire
The British Parliament passed the Slave Trade Act, abolishing the transatlantic slave trade throughout the British Empire.
Desmond Tutu Wins Nobel Peace Prize
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against apartheid.
Ghana Gains Independence
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule.
Toussaint Louverture Born
Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haitian Revolution, was born into slavery in Saint-Domingue (Haiti).
Apartheid Ends in South Africa
South African President F.W. de Klerk announced the end of the ban on the ANC and other anti-apartheid organizations.
Nelson Mandela Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle apartheid.
Franklin and Armfield Slave Trading Firm
The Transatlantic slave trade was formally abolished by Britain with the passage of the Slave Trade Act.
Jamaica Gains Independence
Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign nation.
Wole Soyinka Wins Nobel Prize
Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Chinua Achebe Born
Chinua Achebe, author of "Things Fall Apart" and father of modern African literature, was born in Ogidi, Nigeria.
Kwame Nkrumah Born
Kwame Nkrumah, leader of Ghana's independence movement and first president, was born in Nkroful, Gold Coast.
Patrice Lumumba Assassinated
Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected leader of the Congo, was assassinated.
Nigeria Gains Independence
Nigeria gained its independence from British colonial rule.
Frantz Fanon Born
Frantz Fanon, psychiatrist and revolutionary theorist whose writings influenced anti-colonial movements, was born in Martinique.
Windrush Generation Arrives in Britain
The Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks carrying 492 Caribbean migrants, marking the beginning of mass immigration from the Caribbean to Britain.
South Africa Wins Rugby World Cup Under Mandela
South Africa won the Rugby World Cup, with President Nelson Mandela presenting the trophy wearing a Springbok jersey, symbolizing racial reconciliation.
Mandela Signs South African Constitution
Nelson Mandela signed South Africa's new constitution, one of the most progressive in the world.
Canada Abolishes Slavery
The British Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act, which abolished slavery throughout the British Empire including Canada.
Pelé Born
Pelé, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player of all time, was born in Três Corações, Brazil.
Kwame Ture Born
Stokely Carmichael (later Kwame Ture), who popularized the phrase "Black Power," was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Toussaint Louverture Dies
Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haitian Revolution, died in a French prison.
Black Panther Film Released
Marvel's "Black Panther" premiered, becoming the first major Black superhero film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Claude McKay Born
Poet Claude McKay, a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Jamaica.
Kwanzaa Created
Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African American culture and heritage.
Oscar Peterson Born
Oscar Peterson, one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, was born in Montreal, Canada.
Denmark Vesey Born
Denmark Vesey, who organized one of the largest planned slave revolts in U.S. history, was born in the Caribbean.
Claudia Jones Born
Claudia Jones, Trinidadian-born activist who founded the Notting Hill Carnival, was born in Belmont, Trinidad.
Black Star Line Launched
Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line made its maiden voyage, representing economic independence for the African diaspora.
Kenya Gains Independence
Kenya gained independence from British colonial rule under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta.
Tanzania Gains Independence
Tanganyika (now Tanzania) gained independence from Britain under Julius Nyerere.
Senegal Gains Independence
Senegal gained independence from France under President Léopold Sédar Senghor.
Congo Gains Independence
The Democratic Republic of the Congo gained independence from Belgium.
Haile Selassie Born
Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia and revered figure in the Rastafari movement, was born in Ejersa Goro, Ethiopia.
Diane Abbott Elected to Parliament
Diane Abbott became the first Black woman elected to the British Parliament.
Aimé Césaire Born
Aimé Césaire, poet and politician who co-founded the Négritude literary movement, was born in Basse-Pointe, Martinique.
First Pan-African Congress
W.E.B. Du Bois organized the First Pan-African Congress in Paris, advocating for the rights of Africans and people of African descent.
Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole
Mary Seacole, Jamaican-born nurse and war heroine, sailed for the Crimean War after being rejected by British military authorities.
Winnie Mandela Born
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, anti-apartheid activist and former wife of Nelson Mandela, was born in Bizana, South Africa.
Eritrea Gains Independence
Eritrea formally gained independence from Ethiopia after a 30-year war.
Angola Gains Independence
Angola gained independence from Portugal after a 14-year liberation war.
South Africa Readmitted to Olympics
South Africa returned to the Olympic Games after being banned for 28 years due to apartheid.
Mozambique Gains Independence
Mozambique gained independence from Portugal after a decade-long liberation war.
Claudia Rankine Born
Claudia Rankine, poet and author of "Citizen: An American Lyric," was born in Kingston, Jamaica.
Trinidad and Tobago Independence
Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from Britain.
Hazel Scott Born
Hazel Scott, jazz pianist and the first Black woman to host her own TV show, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Botswana Gains Independence
Botswana gained independence from Britain under President Seretse Khama, whose interracial marriage had caused an international incident.
Rihanna Headlines Super Bowl Halftime Show
Rihanna performed the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, the most-watched musical performance in history, while pregnant.
Ludwig van Beethoven Born
Historian Margaret Washington studied records suggesting Beethoven may have had African ancestry through his mother's Moorish lineage.