Africa is a continent rich in diverse cultures and languages, and the names of its countries often have origins rooted in various sources, including indigenous languages, colonial history, and geographic features. 1.4 billion people live in Africa and by land mass or population, It is second only to Asia. Here’s a list of African countries and the origins of their names:
- Algeria: Derived from the city of Algiers, which itself comes from the Arabic “al-Jazā’ir,” meaning “the islands” or “the peninsula.”
- Angola: Named after the Portuguese term “Angola” referring to the title used by the kings of Ndongo, an ancient kingdom in the region.
- Benin: Named after the ancient Kingdom of Benin, which existed in the region. The name “Benin” possibly originates from the Bight of Benin, a body of water in the area.
- Botswana: The name likely comes from the Tswana people who inhabit the region. “Botsuana” in the Tswana language means “land of the Tswana.”
- Burkina Faso: “Burkina” comes from the Mossi language and means “honest” or “upright.” “Faso” is from the Dyula language, meaning “fatherland” or “land of the ancestors.”
- Burundi: The origin of the name “Burundi” is uncertain, but it’s believed to come from the Kirundi language spoken in the region.
- Cabo Verde (Cape Verde): Named after the westernmost point of the country, Cape Verde or Cabo Verde in Portuguese, meaning “Green Cape.”
- Cameroon: Derived from “Rio dos Camarões” (River of Prawns) by Portuguese explorers due to the abundance of prawns in the Wouri River.
- Central African Republic: Descriptive of the country’s location in the center of the African continent.
- Chad: Derived from Lake Chad, which is believed to have been named after a local word meaning “large expanse of water.”
- Comoros: Likely derived from the Arabic word “Qamar,” meaning “moon,” referring to the islands’ beauty under the moonlight.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: “Congo” comes from the Kingdom of Kongo, and “Democratic Republic” refers to the form of government adopted by the country.
- Djibouti: The name is derived from the Afar word “Gabouti,” which means “plate.” It could also refer to the trade quarter of the city by the same name.
- Egypt: The name “Egypt” is derived from the ancient Greek “Aígyptos,” which possibly comes from the ancient Egyptian phrase “Hwt-ka-Ptah,” meaning “Temple of the soul of Ptah.”
- Equatorial Guinea: Named for its location near the equator and the Gulf of Guinea.
- Eritrea: Derived from the Latin word “Erythræa,” which originated from the Greek term for the Red Sea.
- Eswatini: Formerly known as Swaziland, “Eswatini” means “land of the Swazis” in the Swati language.
- Ethiopia: From the Greek words “Ethio,” meaning “burned” or “sunburnt,” and “opia,” meaning “face” or “appearance.”
- Gabon: Named after the Portuguese word “gabão,” meaning “cloak,” due to the shape of the estuary of the Komo River.
- The Gambia: Named after the Gambia River, which runs through the country. The name possibly originates from the Portuguese word “cambão,” meaning “leg shackle,” due to the river’s winding course.
- Ghana: Derived from the ancient Ghana Empire, meaning “warrior king” in the Soninke language.
- Guinea: The name “Guinea” is believed to be derived from the Berber word “Akal n-Iguinawen,” meaning “land of the blacks.”
- Guinea-Bissau: Named after the Guinea region and the Bissau port.
- Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire): Named for its history in the ivory trade during the colonial period.
- Kenya: Named after Mount Kenya, possibly derived from the Kikuyu, Embu, and Kamba words “Kirinyaga,” meaning “mountain of whiteness” or “mountain of brightness.”
- Lesotho: The name “Lesotho” means “land of the people who speak Sesotho.”
- Liberia: Derived from the Latin word “liber,” meaning “free,” referencing the country’s history as a settlement for freed slaves.
- Libya: Possibly derived from the ancient Berber term “Libu,” meaning “the people.”
- Madagascar: Named by Marco Polo after the Arabic term “Jazīrat al-Maghrib,” meaning “Island of the West.”
- Malawi: Named after the Maravi Empire, an ancient kingdom in the region.
- Mali: Named after the Mali Empire, which was historically prominent in the region.
- Mauritania: Derived from the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania.
- Mauritius: Named after Prince Maurice of Nassau by the Dutch who colonized the island.
- Morocco: Possibly derived from the Berber word “Murakush,” meaning “Land of God.”
- Mozambique: The name “Mozambique” may have derived from the Swahili term “Mtepe,” which refers to a type of Swahili boat.
Ads. - Namibia: Named after the Namib Desert, which is thought to mean “vast place” in the Nama/Damara language.
- Niger: Named after the Niger River, possibly derived from the term “Ni Gir” meaning “River Gir” in the Tuareg language.
- Nigeria: Named after the Niger River. “Nigeria” itself was coined by Flora Shaw, the wife of a British colonial administrator, from “Niger” (River) and the Latin suffix “-ia,” meaning “land of the Niger River.”
- Rwanda: The origin of the name “Rwanda” is uncertain, but it could come from the Kinyarwanda term “uru(r)wanda,” meaning “domain” or “land.”
- São Tomé and Príncipe: Named after Saint Thomas by Portuguese explorers.
- Senegal: Named after the Senegal River that forms the country’s western border.
- Seychelles: Named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, a finance minister under Louis XV.
- Sierra Leone: Named after the mountains that resemble a lion’s profile, which Portuguese sailors called “Serra Leoa.”
- Somalia: The origin of the name “Somalia” is uncertain, but it may come from the words “soo” and “maal,” meaning “go” and “gather,” respectively, in the Somali language.
- South Africa: Named for its geographic location at the southern tip of the African continent.
- South Sudan: Named for its geographic location in the southern part of Sudan.
- Sudan: Derived from the Arabic term “Bilād as-Sūdān,” meaning “Land of the Blacks.”
- Tanzania: A combination of “Tanganyika” and “Zanzibar,” the two states that united to form
Article written by VOLF.TV TEAM , content strategy and produced by Manjeet Bhatt.
