The long-serving president of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Denis Sassou-Nguesso was born on November 23, 1943, in Edou. His parents were Julien Nguesso, a noted hunter-chief, and Emilienne Mouebara. Denis Sassou-Nguesso attended elementary school in Owando and was also initiated in the Mbochi tribal … Read MoreDenis Sassou-Nguesso (1943- )
The current president of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadema, was born on June 6, 1966, in Afanyagan, Togo. His parents were, Etienne Gnassingbé Eyadema, an army officer, and Veronica Massan. A year after his birth in 1967, Gnassingbé’s father seized power in a military coup … Read MoreFaure Gnassingbé (1966- )
A neurosurgeon and politician, Ariel Henry was born in Tabarré, Port-au-Prince, Haïti, on November 6, 1949, to Elie Saturné Henry, a lawyer and university theology professor from Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, and Elvire Cantave Henry, a teacher from Port-au-Prince. Henry has five siblings, Monique Henry, … Read MoreAriel Henry (1949- )
On October 1, 2021, Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as the interim president of Guinea. This was after the former president, Alpha Conde, was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by Doumbouya on September 5, 2021. Mamady Doumbouya was born in Kankan, Guinea on March 4, … Read MoreMamady Doumbouya (1980- )
Ricardo Paulo Chibanga is recognized as the world’s first documented African bullfighter. He was born on November 8, 1942, in Lourenço Marques (present day Maputo), the capital of Mozambique where his father operated a pastry shop to support his family of seven children. At nine … Read MoreRicardo Paulo Chibanga (1942-2019)
Moktar Ould Daddah was the first president of independent Mauritania. He was born on December 25, 1924, at Boutilimit, Mauritania, French West Africa. His parents were Muhammadun Ould Daddah and Khadijattou Mahmoul Brahim. He was descended from a family of Muslim religious scholars and political … Read MoreMoktar Ould Daddah (1924-2003)
Mohammed ben Youssef, the third son of Sultan Moulay Youssef, was born on August 10, 1909, in Fez, Morocco. He became King Mohammed V of independent Morocco. When Mohammed was born, Morocco was a French protectorate. As a child, he received a traditional Koranic education … Read MoreMohammed V (1909-1961)
Vaudeville performer Esther Jones was known on stage by many names, including “Baby Esther,” “Little Esther,” “Farina’s Kid Sister,” and “Miniature Florence Mills,” is widely, although not universally, credited with being the inspiration for the Betty Boop cartoon character. Jones was born Esther Lee Jones … Read MoreEsther Jones (1918-1984)
James Mancham was the first President of the independent nation of Seychelles. He was born on August 11, 1939, the son of Richard and Evelyn (nee Tirant) Mancham, a wealthy family, on the island of Mahe, the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago which was … Read MoreJames Richard Marie Mancham (1939-2017)
Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first President of Djibouti. He was born to Issa nomads at Garissa near the port of Zeila in French Somaliland on October 15, 1916. At the age of 14, he left home and traveled to Djibouti the largest city in … Read MoreHassan Gouled Aptidon (1916-2006)
