Harold Riley was the only artist in the world granted a sitting to capture Nelson Mandela on canvas. The unique portrait was unveiled in 2005 and raised over $1m for South African children's charities at an auction held at the Rockefeller Centre in New York.

Mandela sat for the English artist six times in Cape Town and Johannesburg over 18 months which Harold Riley described as "one of the greatest experiences" of his life.

This programme was produced and presented by Reena Stanton-Sharma using archive.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Harold Riley's portrait of Nelson Mandela. Credit: Stephen Lovekin/WireImage for AOL Time Warner - Corporate Communications)

Fighting in a mineral-rich region of central Africa proves a quandary for Chinese business interests.

"Khartoum is free," says army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan after almost two years of occupation by the RSF.

Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani is promoted to the highest rank in the army, and dissolves all political parties.

Ethiopia's prime minister asks Tigrayans to email him with suggestions for a new leader.

South Africa could face a sanction, including a points deduction, after fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Brent Bozell's nomination comes at a time when relations between South Africa and the United States are at a low point.

The latest update includes "loan words" from several countries, including South Africa and Ireland.

The prince's exit from Sentebale after an internal row has echoes of his decision to step back as a royal.

President Évariste Ndayishimiye says there's "credible intelligence" that Rwanda plans to attack Burundi.

The Duke of Sussex says he and the prince of Lesotho left Sentebale amid a row between the trustees and the chair of its board.

Videos posted on social media show the smoking ruins of market stalls and charred bodies.

Life expectancy in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, increased by 19 years (from 46 to 65) from 2000 to 2019 - mostly due to reductions in mortality from HIV, TB and malaria, and declines in childhood diseases. What does this very rapid demographic change mean for governments, policy planners and ordinary people now living so much longer? Will overstretched health and social protection services be able to cope with the demands that come with longer lives - rapidly increasing non-communicable diseases and dementia, and caring for a growing elderly population? Leah Malekano and Ruth Evans ask how we can ensure there is 'life' in those additional years in one of the most aid-dependent countries in the world.

Algeria, Egypt and Morocco remain on track to reach the 2026 World Cup but Sudan's unlikely bid to qualify suffers a setback.

Nigeria's hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup are fading after a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe leaves them six points behind group leaders South Africa.

The UN issues a stark warning following fighting between the army and the White army militia.

The two countries are on opposite sides in the war in their giant neighbour, DR Congo.

Bitcoin miners will go to remote locations to take advantage of cheap electricity.

In 2015 Goodluck Jonathan became the first Nigerian president to concede election defeat. It allowed the transfer of power to the opposition party in Africa's biggest democracy - a country that had hitherto experienced vote-rigging and violence.

His special adviser on media and publicity Dr Reuben Abati tells Josephine McDermott about the moment when the president phoned his opponent Muhammadu Bahari to congratulate him on winning the election.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen Muhammadu Buhari before the 2015 election. Credit: Getty Images)