The Origins of African Country Names

History, Heritage, and Former Names

Photo by James Wiseman on Unsplash

The names of Africa's 54 countries are products of geography, indigenous cultures, the history of colonization, and linguistic evolution. Many modern names are relatively new, replacing colonial or historical identifiers to demonstrate independence and cultural identity. Here is an in-depth look at each country's name, including former names where applicable.

Here is a comprehensive exploration of all 54 African countries, including their origins and former names where applicable.

Northern Africa

1. Algeria

   • Origin: From its capital, Algiers, derived from the Arabic Al-Jaza'ir ("The Islands").

   • Former Name: French Algeria during colonial rule.

2. Egypt

   • Origin: Greek Aígyptos, linked to the Egyptian Hwt-Ka-Ptah ("Temple of the Soul of Ptah"). Locally called Misr.

   • Former Name: Ancient Kemet, meaning "Black Land."

3. Libya

   • Origin: From Libu, an ancient Berber tribe.

   • Former Name: Italian Libya during colonization.

4. Morocco

   • Origin: From "Marrakech," meaning "Land of God" in Berber. Locally called Al-Maghrib ("The West").

   • Former Name: French and Spanish Morocco.

5. Sudan

   • Origin: Arabic Bilad al-Sudan ("Land of the Blacks").

   • Former Name: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan during British-Egyptian rule.

6. Tunisia

   • Origin: From its capital, Tunis, likely derived from Berber TNS ("to encamp").

   • Former Name: French Tunisia.

Western Africa

7. Benin

   • Origin: Named after the Bight of Benin, referring to the Kingdom of Benin.

   • Former Name: Dahomey.

8. Burkina Faso

   • Origin: Combines Mossi Burkina ("Upright") and Dioula Faso ("Fatherland").

   • Former Name: Upper Volta.

9. Cape Verde

   • Origin: Portuguese Cabo Verde ("Green Cape").

   • Former Name: Retained its name from Portuguese colonization.

10. Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

    • Origin: Named for its role in the historic ivory trade.

    • Former Name: Retained from French colonial times.

11. Gambia

    • Origin: From the Gambia River; possibly from Portuguese or local Mandinka languages.

    • Former Name: British Gambia.

12. Ghana

    • Origin: Named after the ancient Ghana Empire, meaning "Warrior King."

    • Former Name: Gold Coast.

13. Guinea

    • Origin: Likely from Berber Akal n-Iguinawen ("Land of the Blacks").

    • Former Name: French Guinea.

14. Guinea-Bissau

    • Origin: Named after its capital, Bissau, to distinguish it from Guinea.

    • Former Name: Portuguese Guinea.

15. Liberia

    • Origin: From Latin liber ("free"), reflecting its foundation by freed African Americans.

    • Former Name: None; established as Liberia.

16. Mali

    • Origin: From the Mali Empire, meaning "hippopotamus" in Mandinka.

    • Former Name: French Sudan.

17. Mauritania

    • Origin: From the ancient Berber kingdom of Mauretania.

    • Former Name: Retained from French colonization.

18. Niger

    • Origin: From the Niger River, likely derived from Latin niger ("black").

    • Former Name: Retained from French colonization.

19. Nigeria

    • Origin: Named after the Niger River by Flora Shaw.

    • Former Name: Southern and Northern Nigeria during British colonization.

20. Senegal

    • Origin: Possibly from the Wolof Sunuu Gaal ("Our Canoe").

    • Former Name: French Senegal.

21. Sierra Leone

    • Origin: Portuguese Serra Leoa ("Lion Mountains"), named by Pedro de Sintra.

    • Former Name: Retained from colonization.

22. Togo

    • Origin: Ewe to ("river") and go ("shore").

    • Former Name: Togoland under German and later French rule.

Central Africa

23. Angola

• Origin: From the Ndongo kingdom’s title, Ngola.

• Former Name: Portuguese Angola.

24. Cameroon

• Origin: Portuguese Rio dos Camarões ("River of Prawns").

• Former Name: German Kamerun.

25. Central African Republic

• Origin: Geographic; named for its position in central Africa.

• Former Name: Ubangi-Shari under French rule.

26. Chad

• Origin: From Lake Chad; Kanuri tsade ("large expanse of water").

• Former Name: Retained from French colonial times.

27. Congo (Brazzaville)

• Origin: From the Congo River, named after the Kingdom of Kongo.

• Former Name: French Congo.

28. Congo (Kinshasa)

• Origin: Also from the Congo River; distinguishes itself as the Democratic Republic.

• Former Name: Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seko.

29. Equatorial Guinea

• Origin: Named for its location near the equator and the Gulf of Guinea.

• Former Name: Spanish Guinea.

30. Gabon

• Origin: Portuguese gabão ("cloak"), referring to the shape of the Komo River estuary.

• Former Name: French Gabon.

31. São Tomé and Príncipe

• Origin: Portuguese for "Saint Thomas" and "Prince."

• Former Name: Retained since Portuguese colonization.

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Eastern Africa

32. Burundi

• Origin: From the local Rundi language, meaning "Land of the Rundi people."

• Former Name: German East Africa.

33. Comoros

• Origin: From Arabic Qamar ("moon").

• Former Name: Retained from French colonial times.

34. Djibouti

• Origin: Possibly from Afar gabouti, a type of plant.

• Former Name: French Somaliland.

35. Eritrea

• Origin: Greek Erythraía ("Red [Sea]").

• Former Name: Italian Eritrea.

36. Ethiopia

• Origin: Greek Aithiops ("burnt face").

• Former Name: Abyssinia in Western texts.

37. Kenya

• Origin: From Mount Kenya, Kikuyu Kĩrĩnyaga ("mountain of whiteness").

• Former Name: British East Africa.

38. Madagascar

• Origin: Misnamed by Marco Polo, confusing it with Mogadishu.

• Former Name: Retained from French colonial times.

39. Malawi

• Origin: From Maravi, meaning "flames" or "fire."

• Former Name: Nyasaland under British rule.

40. Mauritius

• Origin: Named by the Dutch after Prince Maurice of Nassau.

• Former Name: Retained from French and British colonial times.

41. Rwanda

• Origin: From Urwanda, meaning "expansive" in Kinyarwanda.

• Former Name: German East Africa and later Belgian Rwanda.

42. Seychelles

• Origin: Named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, a French finance minister.

• Former Name: Retained from colonial times.

43. Somalia

• Origin: From the Somali people; possibly "go and milk" in Somali.

• Former Name: British Somaliland and Italian Somalia.

44. South Sudan

• Origin: Named for its location south of Sudan.

• Former Name: Part of Sudan before independence in 2011.

45. Tanzania

• Origin: From the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

• Former Name: Tanganyika and Zanzibar as separate states.

46. Uganda

• Origin: From the Buganda Kingdom.

• Former Name: Retained from British colonial times.

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Southern Africa

47. Botswana

• Origin: Named after the Tswana people.

• Former Name: Bechuanaland under British rule.

48. Eswatini

• Origin: "Land of the Swazis" in the Swazi language.

• Former Name: Swaziland.

49. Lesotho

• Origin: "Land of the Sotho speakers" in Sesotho.

• Former Name: Basutoland.

50. Mozambique

• Origin: From the Island of Mozambique, named after Arab trader Musa Al Big.

• Former Name: Portuguese Mozambique.

51. Namibia

• Origin: From the Namib Desert, meaning "vast place" in Nama.

• Former Name: South West Africa under German and South African rule.

52. South Africa

• Origin: Geographic location at the southern tip of Africa.

• Former Name: Retained since British rule.

53. Zambia

• Origin: From the Zambezi River.

• Former Name: Northern Rhodesia under British rule.

54. Zimbabwe

• Origin: Shona Dzimba dza mabwe ("Houses of Stone").

• Former Name: Southern Rhodesia.

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Conclusion

The names of African countries reflect their intricate histories, blending indigenous traditions, colonial influences, and post-independence identity shifts. Each name tells a story of resilience, culture, and change.