On This Day: What happened on 9 December?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 9 December, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 9 DECEMBER

1961 | Tanganyika, now called Tanzania, officially gained independence. 

1982 | The South African Defence Force raids the outskirts of Maseru, Lesotho. They were targeting ANC militants who were living in Maseru.40 people died, 30 of them were believed to be ANC members. 

2012 | John Dramani Mahama wins Ghana’s presidential elections. He is the first President of Ghana who was born after Ghana’s independence. 

2016 | Two suicide bombers attack a market area in Madagali, Nigeria, killing 57 people and injuring 177.

READ: On This Day: What happened on 8 December?

DEATHS

1963 | Nigerian author, Daniel O. Fagunwa (60)

1966 | Zulu choirmaster and composer, Alfred Assegai Kumalo (87)

2008 | Ghanaian footballer, Ibrahim Dossey (36)

BIRTHDAYS

1973 | Burundian middle and long-distance runner, Vénuste Niyongabo

1982 | South African model, Lee-Ann Liebenberg

1988 | Ghanaian footballer, Kwadwo Asamoah

1986 | South African-born, Romanian rugby union player, Johannes van Heerden

SPORT

1995 | South African heavyweight boxer Francois Botha wins the International Boxing Federation World Heavyweight Championship when he beats against Axel Schulz from Germany. 

2006 | New Zealand beat the Blitzboks 24-17 in the Cup final of the SA leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series.

ENTERTAINMENT

2015 | South African Hip Hop Awards held at The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino in Johannesburg

AFRICA FACT

The highest bungee jump in the world is the Bloukrans Bridge Bungy at 216 metres (709 foot) above the Bloukrans River in South Africa.