The British government changes the status of Egypt from a Turkish province to a British protectorate

British and French forces invade the German colony of Togoland

The nearest star to earth, the red dwarf Proxima Centauri 4.22 light years away, is discovered by Robert Innes, Scottish director of the Johannesburg Observatory

February - British and French forces invade and capture the German colony of Cameroon

South African troops capture German South West Africa

Ras Tafari, a member of the Ethiopian imperial family, deposes his distant relation the emperor and puts on the throne his aunt, Zauditu

British and French forces win full control of the German colonies of Togoland and Cameroon

Belgian troops from the Congo occupy the German colony of Ruanda-Urundi

Wafd, a national party, is formed in Cairo with the purpose of ending Egypt's enforced link with Britain

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, commander of the German army in East Africa, surrenders after four stubborn years of resistance

The League of Nations makes South West Africa (Namibia) a mandated British territory, to be administered by South Africa

On the death of Louis Botha, Jan Smuts succeeds him as prime minister of South Africa

German East Africa is to be governed by Britain as Tanganyika, under a League of Nations mandate

Destour is formed as a nationalist party in Tunisia, demanding full independence from France

The Young Kikuyu Association is formed in Kenya, to fight for African rights and the restoration of Kikuyu land

Abd-el-Krim wins a sensational victory over Spanish forces in Morocco and gains control of the Rif

Egypt becomes an independent kingdom, subject to a British military presence to protect the Suez canal

The League of Nations gives France and Britain mandates to govern separate areas of the German colony of Cameroon

France and Britain are given a League of Nations mandate to govern separate areas of the German colony of Togoland

Howard Carter exposes a flight of steps in the Valley of the Kings and comes to a barrier bearing the name Tutankhamun

The African National Congress (ANC) is formed in South Africa by renaming the South African National Native Congress

Rhodesia becomes a self-governing colony with political power exclusively in the hands of European settlers

James Hertzog's National Party, committed to protecting white privilege, comes to power in South Africa

The British rugby team touring South Africa are for the first time called the Lions

The League of Nations grants Belgium a mandate to administer the former Germany colony of Ruanda-Urundi