Unknown author — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1804 Haiti declared independence from France following the Haitian Revolution, becoming the world's first black-led republic and the first independent nation in Latin America.
IndependenceOn this day — January 1 in African history
Real events, births and milestones from Africa and the diaspora.
Unknown author — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1804 
Photo by Elliott & Fry — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1900 Nigeria came under direct British colonial control as separate Northern and Southern protectorates were established, with Frederick Lugard appointed high commissioner.
Politics
Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian condominium rule, becoming a sovereign republic with Ismail al-Azhari as its first prime minister.
Independence
White House Photographic Collection — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1960 Cameroon gained independence from France, raising its new tricolor flag at Yaoundé; Ahmadou Ahidjo went on to become the country's first president.
Independence
Unknown photographer — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1964 The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was formally dissolved, splitting into Southern Rhodesia and the territories that would soon become independent Zambia and Malawi.
PoliticsA bomb exploded outside a Coptic Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt, as worshippers left a New Year service, killing 23 people.
TragedyA stampede following New Year celebrations at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, killed at least 60 people and injured about 200.
Tragedy
Unknown author — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 2009 Helen Suzman, South African anti-apartheid activist and long-serving opposition member of parliament, died at age 91.
Death
Nesnad — Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons 1967 The first-ever Kwanzaa, the African American cultural celebration created by Maulana Karenga, concluded on its seventh and final day, marking the principle of Imani (faith).
Culture