Etymological Map of Africa

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The names of African countries have diverse origins, often influenced by historical, linguistic, cultural, and geographical factors.

The names of some African countries are derived from prominent geographical features found within their borders. This could include references to rivers, mountains, lakes, deserts, and other significant landmarks.

Many African countries have names originating from the languages of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the regions for centuries. These names often have significant cultural and historical meanings, reflecting aspects of the local geography, flora, fauna, or the traditional beliefs and practices of the communities.

Some African countries derive their names from the ancient empires, kingdoms, or city-states that once thrived in the region. The current country’s name may be a continuation of the historical entity or have evolved from its original name.

During the era of European colonialism, various African countries were colonized by European powers such as Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and others. The colonial powers often imposed new names on these territories, which were sometimes based on the geography, prominent landmarks, or the colonial leader’s name.

The names of some African countries might be translations from indigenous languages to languages spoken by colonizers or vice versa, depending on historical interactions.

After achieving independence from colonial rule, some African countries adopted new names as a way to distance themselves from their colonial past and assert their identity as sovereign nations.

In some cases, the names of African countries were chosen through political processes involving leaders, governments, or national referendums, with the aim of unifying diverse ethnic groups or honoring key historical figures.

The map below shows the literal meaning of every country’s name in Africa.

Interestingly, the name of the African continent itself was named after the Afri People, who lived in the area of Carthage (current-day Tunisia) during Roman times.

You can learn more about Africa from the following books:

• Great Kingdoms of Africa
• Ancient African Kingdoms: A Captivating Guide to Civilizations of Ancient Africa Such as the Land of Punt, Carthage, the Kingdom of Aksum, the Mali Empire, … Kingdom of Kush
• African History