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April
22

Today in African History

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Sharpvile massacre

It's March 21st, 1960, and tensions are running high in the township of Sharpeville, located in the Transvaal Province of South Africa. Led by the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), a splinter group of the African National C...

Historical Events

6
  • 🎭 ? Earth Day - display support for environmental protection.
  • Francis Dhanis
    ⚔️ 1893 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Francis Dhanis'( a Belgian colonial soldier) army occupies the town of Kasongo in DRC.
  • ⚠️ 1960 More than a thousand people are detained under the state of emergency following the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa. 🇿🇦 South Africa
  • 🏛️ 1961 The UN General Assembly authorizes $100,000,000 for military operations in the Congo. 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Paul Kagame
    🗳️ 2000 🇷🇼 Rwanda
    Paul Kagame becomes the president of Rwanda.
  • Mohamed Salah
    🎭 2018 🇪🇬 Egypt
    Mohamed Salah, An Egyptian professional footballer who plays for Liverpool, wins the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year award.

Famous Births

1
  • 🌟 1978 Paul Malakwen Kosgei, a Kenyan runner and coach, is born. 🇰🇪 Kenya

Discover Africa's Rich Past

Sharpvile massacre

Sharpvile massacre

It's March 21st, 1960, and tensions are running high in the township of Sharpeville, located in the Transvaal Province of South Africa. Led by the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), a splinter group of the African National Congress (ANC), the group of around 7,000 protestors have taken to the streets to rally against the oppressive pass laws.

Some sources say that the crowd was peaceful, but others claim that things had turned ugly with rocks being hurled at the police.

As the protestors make their way towards the police station, the South African Police (SAP) prepare for the worst. Tear gas proves to be useless, and as the crowd approaches the fence surrounding the station, the SAP make the fateful decision to open fire.

The sound of gunfire rings out across the township as chaos erupts. Photographer Ian Berry is on the scene, thinking that the police are firing blanks. But the reality is far more horrifying - 69 people are killed, and 180 are injured. Among the victims are 29 children, and some are even shot in the back as they try to flee the violence.

The massacre leaves a lasting impact on South Africa and the world, with March 21st becoming a public holiday to honour human rights and commemorate the tragedy. The photographs taken by Ian Berry serve as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed that day, and the importance of standing up for justice and equality.

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