On this day — August 27 in African history

James E. Purdy, National Portrait Gallery — CC0/Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Pan-Africanist scholar and civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois died in Accra, Ghana, at age 95, the day before the March on Washington.

Sources: PBS American Masters ; Hutchins Center for African & African American Research, Harvard University

Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, deposed the previous year in a military coup, was reported by the ruling Derg to have died in Addis Ababa; evidence later suggested he had been killed on the junta's orders.

Sources: BBC News ; Los Angeles Times ; The Moscow Times

Rob Bogaerts / Anefo, Nationaal Archief — CC BY-SA 3.0 NL, Wikimedia Commons

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Zulu prince and Inkatha Freedom Party leader who played a major role in South Africa's transition from apartheid, was born in Mahlabathini.

Sources: South African History Online ; Reuters

Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Britain crushed a succession revolt in Zanzibar in the Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest recorded war in history at roughly 38 minutes.

Sources: HistoryExtra (BBC History Magazine) ; The Historical Association ; Anaquel de Estudios Arabes, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Silvio Tanaka, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Cesária Évora, the Cape Verdean singer known as the "Barefoot Diva" whose morna ballads brought Cape Verdean music to global audiences, was born.

Sources: The Guardian ; The Independent ; BBC News

Nigerian military ruler Muhammadu Buhari was ousted in a bloodless coup led by Ibrahim Babangida.

Sources: Los Angeles Times ; Library of Congress ; BBC News