On this day — August 25 in African history

Tchicaya U Tam'si, a celebrated Congolese poet and novelist regarded as one of the leading voices of Francophone African literature, was born in Mpili, French Equatorial Africa.

Sources: The Poetry Foundation ; Les Dépêches de Brazzaville (adiac-congo.com)

King Louis IX of France died at Tunis during the Eighth Crusade, which he had led.

Sources: The Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent, 1913) ; SMOTJ Library

Zimbabwe joined the United Nations on 25 August 1980, four months after gaining independence from Britain.

Sources: United Nations Treaty Collection ; National Archives of Australia

Mandé Sidibé, a former prime minister of Mali, died.

Sources: Jeune Afrique ; Maliweb (reprinting L'Independant)

The World Health Organization certified the African region free of wild poliovirus, a milestone reached four years after the continent's last case, in Nigeria.

Sources: The Lancet Global Health ; WHO Regional Office for Africa