February 5: This Day In History (World history).

February 5, 2025 EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AJIBOLA

February 5 has been a day marked by defining moments in African history. It has witnessed the rise and fall of leaders, the clash of empires, the resilience of the faithful, and the shifting tides of power. Across centuries, this date has carried stories of courage, betrayal, spiritual awakenings, and hard-fought victories that shaped the continent’s past and continue to influence its future. Whether in the halls of power, on the battlefield, or in places of worship, February 5 remains a testament to Africa’s enduring legacy of resistance, renewal, and transformation. Here are some notable events that happened on February 5 throughout history:

Historical Events

Consecration of Archbishop Desmond Tutu as Bishop of Johannesburg (1985): Desmond Tutu, a leading anti-apartheid activist and Anglican cleric, was officially consecrated as the Bishop of Johannesburg, a major step in his Christian leadership and activism.

First Sudanese Civil War Ends (1972): On February 5, 1972, peace talks between the Sudanese government and Christian leaders in Southern Sudan began. This led to the Addis Ababa Agreement, which granted autonomy to Christian-majority South Sudan, though conflict later resumed.

62 AD: A violent earthquake struck Pompeii, Italy, foreshadowing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
1924: Death of Jaja of Opobo’s Son, Prince Sunday Jaja. Prince Sunday Jaja, son of King Jaja of Opobo, dies. His father was a Nigerian king and a former slave who became a powerful trader before being exiled by the British.
1782: The British House of Commons votes against further war in America, signalling the end of the American Revolutionary War.
1885: King Leopold II of Belgium established the Congo Free State, claiming it as his personal possession, leading to brutal exploitation and human rights abuses.
1919: The United Artists film studio was founded by Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffith to give artists more control over their work.
1958: A U.S. Air Force bomber accidentally drops a nuclear bomb near Tybee Island, Georgia. The bomb was never recovered.
1971: Astronauts from Apollo 14, Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell, land on the Moon, and Shepard famously hits a golf ball on the lunar surface.
1994: Byron De La Beckwith is convicted for the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, over 30 years after the crime.
2019: Pope Francis becomes the first Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, signing a historic declaration of interfaith brotherhood in the UAE.

Famous Birthdays

1788 – Robert Peel, British Prime Minister and founder of the modern police force.
1840 – John Boyd Dunlop, Scottish inventor of the pneumatic tire.
1900 – Adlai Stevenson II, American politician and two-time U.S. presidential candidate.
1919 – Red Buttons, American comedian and actor.
1985 – Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese footballer and one of the greatest players of all time.
1992 – Neymar Jr., Brazilian footballer known for his skill and flair.

Notable Deaths

1818 – Charles XIII of Sweden, King of Sweden and Norway.
1924 – Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. President and leader during World War I.
2020 – Kirk Douglas, legendary Hollywood actor known for Spartacus.

Death of Archbishop Paulos of Ethiopia (2012): Abune Paulos, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, passed away. He played a significant role in promoting peace and interfaith dialogue in Ethiopia.