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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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