1960 is a year Nigerians will never forget in a hurry. We received Independence from Britain.

1960 is not just a great year for Nigerians alone, it is a great year for Africa in general. The year is also known as the “Year of Africa” because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism.

We give you 10 more things from 1960 that are worth celebrating in 2014, apart from Nigeria’s Independence.

1. The First Black African Olympic Gold Medal

In the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila won the marathon and became the first Black African to receive an Olympic Gold Medal.

Abebe could not find his size of shoe so he decided to run barefoot.

After the race, when Bikila was asked why he had run barefoot, he replied, “I wanted the whole world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism.”

2. The Greensboro Sit-in Against Segregation

On February 1st 1960, four African American students staged the first sit-in at a segregated lunch counter.

The four students sat at the segregated lunch counter to protest the policy of excluding African Americans from being served there.

The four students purchased small items in other parts of the store and kept their receipts, then sat down at the lunch counter and asked to be served. After being denied service, they produced their receipts and asked why their money was good everywhere else at the store, but not at the lunch counter

Although they are refused service, they are allowed to stay at the counter.

The protesters had been encouraged to dress professionally, to sit quietly, and to occupy every other stool so that potential white sympathizers could join in.

The event triggers many similar non violent protest throughout the United States , and six months later the original 4 protesters are served lunch in the same counter.

3. The First Weather Satellite

The United States launches the first weather satellite TIROS-1. TIROS, for Television Infrared Observation Satellite sent the first TV images from space.

It functioned for just 78 days, but it sent back thousands of pictures of cloud patterns forming and moving across the face of the planet.

4. The Invention Of Laser

When lasers were invented in 1960, they were called “a solution looking for a problem”. This is because it had to potential to solve thousands of problems in almost every aspect of living.

The first use of lasers in daily lives of the general population was the supermarket barcode scanner.

Lasers have many important applications. They are used in common consumer devices as DVD players, laser printers, bloodless surgery, laser healing, kidney stone treatment, eye treatment, dentistry, various skin treatments.

If we had a week, we would be unable to list out every use of laser available to humans.

Even the non-contact thermometer paraded as “Ebola tester” makes use of laser technology

5. Implantable Heart Pace Maker

The actual pacemaker was invented in 1950 but it was an external device. The first successful implant of pacemaker took place in 1960.

The 77-year-old patient lived for 18 months after the device was implanted.

6. World’s First Elected Female Head Of State

Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka was elected Prime minister of Sri Lanka in 1960.

Bandaranaike became the World’s First Woman Head of Government, after her husband was assassinate in 1959.

She took over her husband’s position of leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, and led them to win the country’s government election in 1960.

7. Invention of Magnetic Stripe card

Magnetic stripe technology remains an effective form of information storage. While other technologies have come onto the market, magnetic stripe cards are still a cheap, easily implemented system that is seen and used by millions of people every day.

We use cards with magnetic stripes cards everyday without even thinking about it. The most visible use is your bank (credit, debit, and ATM) cards; magnetic stripe technology is also used on Identity Cards, Airline Tickets and Boarding Pass and Keycards.

8. Elevation of 1st African Cardinal

Africa had its first Cardinal in the year 1960.

Laurean Rugambwa was the first Native African Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, and he was elevated to cardinalate in 1960.

He was the youngest of Africa’s bishop.

Rugambwa was one of the cardinal electors in the 1963 papal conclave that selected Pope Paul VI. He also participated in the conclaves, which selected Popes John Paul I and John Paul II.

9. Segregation is Declared Illegal in the United States

On December 5, 1960, the Supreme Court declared that segregation in public transportation is illegal in the United States.

Technically, this means that if Nnamdi Azikwe had gone to the United States on Independence Day, he would be segregated from a “white man” in public transport.

10. The Flintstones

The Flintstones debuted in 1960 and it was the most financially successful network animated franchise for three decades until The Simpsons debuted.

This year, TV Guide ranked The Flintstones the second Greatest TV Cartoon of All Time.

If you do not think the Flintstones deserve to be on this list then your childhood is not anywhere close to awesome. Really.

- See more at: http://giftedgreen.com/2014/blog/2014/10/01/10-things-from-1960-that-are-worth-celebrating-in-2014-apart-from-nigerias-independence/#sthash.QkwQifNe.dpuf

J

the Ethiopian runner that couldn't find his size of shoe must be as tall as Goliath

rawpadgin: the Ethiopian runner that couldn't find his size of shoe must be as tall as Goliath

Not really,

Adidas, the shoe sponsor at the 1960 Summer Olympics, had few shoes left when Bikila went to try out shoes and he ended up with a pair that didn’t fit comfortably, so he couldn't use them.

Bikila was added to the Ethiopian Olympic team only at the last moment, as the plane to Rome was about to leave, as a replacement for Wami Biratu, who seriously ill

You can say he was destined to win the race

isn't there a mod that can move this to front page? it's informative enough!

gud one

just in case **

Ok

Hmm..will come back to comment

Very informative.............

thank you @op

Giftedgreen:

Not really,

Adidas, the shoe sponsor at the 1960 Summer Olympics, had few shoes left when Bikila went to try out shoes and he ended up with a pair that didn’t fit comfortably, so he couldn't use them.

Bikila was added to the Ethiopian Olympic team only at the last moment, as the plane to Rome was about to leave, as a replacement for Wami Biratu, who seriously ill

You can say he was destined to win the race

now i know better.