In 2008 South African singer Miriam Makeba died at 76 after a 30-minute performance for Roberto Saviano in the Italian town of Caserta. Image by Wikipedia Common
On This Day in South Africa: What happened on 09 November?
We look back on this day in world and South African history, remembering the people and events that shaped the world we live in today.
In 2008 South African singer Miriam Makeba died at 76 after a 30-minute performance for Roberto Saviano in the Italian town of Caserta. Image by Wikipedia Common
Look at what happened on this day 09 November in history. From various achievements and milestones throughout human history to groundbreaking inventions and events that shaped the world we live in today.
Here is a look at some of the most notable events that happened on this day
ON THIS DAY: 09 NOVEMBER
2004 | South African President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad, arrived in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) to assist in resolving the political turmoil in the country.
1989 | The Berlin Wall was opened, marking the end of a 28-year division of the city.
1967 | NASA successfully launched Apollo 4 into orbit, marking the first successful test of a Saturn V rocket.
1938 | Nazis killed 35 Jews, detained thousands, and razed Jewish synagogues, residences, and shops across Germany in an event famously referred to as Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass.
1935 | Japanese troops initiated an invasion of Shanghai, China.
ALSO READ: What happened on 08 November?
BIRTHDAYS
1974 | Italian footballer, Alessandro Del Piero born in Italy
1973 | Greek footballer, Zisis Vryzas born in Greece
1972 | American NFL linebacker, Mark Fields born in California
1971 | American NFL wide receiver (New Orleans Saints), Steve Rhem born in Florida
1934 | Author and playwright, Ronald Harwood in Cape Town
DEATHS
2020 | Italian boxer (Olympic gold flyweight 1964), Fernando Atzori dies at 78
2018 | American baseball player, Ken Howell dies at 57
2013 | English rugby league fullback, Steve Prescott dies of cancer at 39
2011 | American ice hockey left wing, Roger Christian dies at 75
2008 | South African singer Miriam Makeba dies at the age of 76
SPORTS
1996 | Evander Holyfield pulled off a surprising 11th-round knockout victory over Mike Tyson in Las Vegas, recapturing the WBA heavyweight boxing title. He became the second boxer, following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali, to secure the heavyweight title three times.
ENTERTAINMENT
2008 | Miriam Makeba, the renowned South African singer who achieved the 12th position on the Billboard chart in 1967 with ‘Pata Pata,’ suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 76. Notably, she was the first African woman to win a Grammy, earning the award for Best Folk Recording in 1966 alongside Harry Belafonte for ‘An Evening With Belafonte / Makeba.’
AFRICA FACT
In the 16th century, West African scholars deemed a collection of 1,600 books to be a modest library. Professor Ahmed Baba of Timbuktu once mentioned that among his acquaintances, he possessed the most modest library, containing just 1,600 volumes.
