Jean-Claude Beton, the Algerian-born French businessman who turned Orangina into an international brand, was born in Algeria.
Sources: The New York Times ; France 24
Corrected in September 2026 · see what changed
Birth
Ceiling of Debre Birhan Selassie church, Gondar, Ethiopia. Photo: Rod Waddington, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence · Source
On this day: January 14 in African history
Real events, births and milestones from Africa and the diaspora.
Jonjon82, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons 1980 Robert Ardrey, the American playwright and author of African Genesis who settled in South Africa, died at age 71.
Sources: University of Chicago Library, Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center ; ESAT, Stellenbosch University (South African Theatre bibliography)
Corrected in September 2026 · see what changed
DeathÉtienne Daho, Algerian-born French singer-songwriter and one of French pop's most influential producers, was born.
Birth
Gr5, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons 1990 Lelisa Desisa, Ethiopian long-distance runner and two-time Boston Marathon champion, was born.
Sources: World Athletics ; Olympedia (OlyMADMen Olympic statistics database) ; WBUR (Boston)
BirthThomas Longosiwa, the Kenyan long-distance runner who took 5,000m bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, was born.
Sources: World Athletics ; Olympedia (OlyMADMen Olympic statistics database)
Birth