Last Updated on 27 December 2024 by Naijadazz
Africa is the second largest continent in the world with a land mass of about 30,370,000 km2, and it is also the second most populous continent after Asia. Africa as a continent generally consists of 54 countries, 5 regions, different native languages and ethnicities.
Africa has been believed to be the continent in which the human species originated from as well as the oldest territory inhabited on earth. It is rich in history as well as natural resources that make it a unique continent.
We are quite familiar with the names of countries in Africa, but some of us do not really know their meanings, origins, colonial masters and regions.
In this article, we are going to talk about African countries, and their original meaning of their names.
Names of African countries and their real meanings
1 Algeria
It is the largest country in Africa by area, and it is located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. The country was colonized by France, and their official language is Arabic. It would interest you to know that the name Algeria was derived from the city of Algiers which originated from the Arabic al-Jazāʾir (the Islands). In other words, Algeria means the Islands according to Wikipedia.
2 Angola
This is a country located in the west coast of Central Africa. It was colonized by Portugal, and their official language is Portuguese. The name Angola was derived by the Portuguese from the title “ngola” held by the kings of ndongo. Angola in other words means the Land of Ngola.
3 Benin
Benin also known officially as the Republic of Benin is a country located in West Africa. The official language of the country is French and it was colonized by France. Formerly known as Dahomey, but was later renamed Benin after the body of water on which the country lies. The name Benin means the Land of Argument.
4 Botswana
Botswana is a country located in Southern Africa, and it was colonized by Britain. Botswana was named after the dominant territory in Botswana. The name of Botswana means the Land of the Tswana.
5 Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso formerly called the Republic of the Upper Volta is a country located in West Africa. It was colonized by France, and their official language is French. Burkina Faso was named by then president Thomas Sankara on the 4th of August 1984. The name Burkina Faso means the Land of Honest Men.
6 Burundi
Burundi is a country located in East Africa, it was colonized by Belgium. The name Burundi means the Home of Rudi Speakers.
7 Cameroon
Cameroon officially known as Republic of Cameroon is located in Central Africa. It was colonized by Germany, Cameroon officially known as Republic of Cameroon is located in Central Africa. It was colonized by Germany, France and England. The name Cameroon is derived from Rio de Camaroes meaning “River of Prawns” according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
8.Cape Verde
Cape Verde is a country located in West Africa, and it was colonized by Portugal. The country was named by Portuguese navigator Dinis Dias in 1444. The name of Cape Verde means Green Cape. You would also like to know that Cape Verde is officially called Cabo Verde.
9. Central African Republic
Central African Republic is located in Central Africa, and it was colonized by France. The country’s name means Republic in the Central of Africa.
10 Chad
Chad which is named after Lake Chad is Located in Central Africa. It was colonized by France and it means Land of the Large Lake.
Others are:
11 Comoros
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from Arabic djazaïr al kamar
Meaning: Islands of the Moon
12 Congo
Region: Central Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Named after the kingdom of Congo
Meaning: Kingdom of Mountains
13 Congo DRC
Region: Central Africa
Colonial Master: Belgium
Origin: Named after the kingdom of Congo.
Meaning: Democratic Republic of the Congo.
14 Côte D’Ivoire
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from the herds of elephant
Meaning: Ivory Coast
15 Djibouti
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from Gabooti which means “a set of baskets”.
Meaning: The Plateau.
16 Egypt
Region: North Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Derived from Latin Aegyptus.
Meaning: Frontier.
17 Equatorial Guinea
Region: Central Africa
Colonial Master: Spain
Origin: Derived from gnawa(black man)
Meaning: Equatorial Land of the Black Men
18 Eritrea
Region: East Africa.
Colonial Master: Ethiopia.
Meaning: Land of the Red Sea.
Origin: Named by Italian settlers.
19 Ethiopia
Region: East Africa.
Colonial Master: None.
Origin: Derived from the son of Koush.
Meaning: Land of Burnt Faces.
20 Gabon
Region: Central Africa.
Colonial Master: France.
Origin: Derived from the word “Gabão” named by the Portuguese.
Meaning: Hooded Cloak .
21 Gambia
Region: West Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Named after the river”Gambura”.
Meaning: The River.
22 Ghana
Region: West Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Named after Ancient Ghana.
Meaning: The King’s Land
23 Guinea
Region: West Africa.
Colonial Master: France.
Origin: Same as Equatorial Guinea.
Origin: Same as Equatorial Guinea.
Meaning: Land of the Black Men.
24 Guinea Bissau
Region: West Africa.
Colonial Master: Portugal.
Origin: Same as Equatorial Guinea
Meaning: Black Bissau
25 Kenya
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Derived from Kikuyu
Meaning: Mountain of Whiteness
26 Lesotho
Region: Southern Africa
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Named after the Sotho people
Meaning: Land of the Sotho
27 Liberia
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: American Colonization
Origin: Derived from the Latin word” Liber” which means free
Meaning: Free Country
28 Libya
Region: North Africa
Colonial Master: Italy
Origin: Derived from the Greek word”Libúe”
Meaning: Land of the Libu
29 Madagascar
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from the Malagasy language
Meaning: Holy land
30 Malawi
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Derived from Marawi
Meaning: Land of flames
31 Mali
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from “Madinka”
Meaning: Hippopotamus
32 Mauritania
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from ancient Berber kingdom
Meaning: Land of the Mauri
33 Mauritius
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Derived from the name of a Dutch prince “Maurice of Nassau”
Meaning: Land of Governor Van Nassau
34 Morocco
Region: North Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from the Latin word” Morroch”
Meaning: The far west
35.Mozambique
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: Portugal
Origin: Named after Mouzino de Albuquerque
Meaning: Land of Musa Al Biq
36 Namibia
Region: Southern Africa
Colonial Master: Germany
Origin: Derived from Namib
Meaning: The vast place
37 Niger
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Named after River Niger
Meaning: River of rivers
38 Nigeria
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Named by British journalist Flora Shaw who later got married to Lord Luggard
Meaning: Niger River derived from Ni Gir – meaning River Gir which is derived from the latin word ‘niger” meaning black.
39 Rwanda
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: Germany/Belgium
Origin: Ruanda
Meaning: Land of the Rwandans
40 Sao Tome & Principe
Region: Central Africa.
Colonial Master: Portugal
Origin: Named after Saint Thomas by the Portuguese explorers
Meaning: Saint Thomas and Prince
41 Senegal
Region: West Africa
Colonial Master: France
Origin: Derived from “Sunu gaal”
Meaning: Our canoe
42 Seychelles
Region: East Africa
Colonial Master: Britain
Origin: Named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles
Meaning: Republic of Seychelles
43 Sierra Leone
Region: West Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Derived from “Serra de Leão”
Meaning: Lion Mountains.
44 Somalia
Region: East Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain/Italy.
Origin: Derived from “Samaale”.
Meaning: Land of Soma.
45 South Africa
Region: Southern Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Meaning: Beautiful southern land.
46 Sudan
Region: East Africa.
Colonial Master: Egypt/Britain.
Origin: Derived from the Arabic word”Aswad”.
Meaning: Country of the Blacks.
47 Swaziland
Region: Southern Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Named after king Mswati.
Meaning: Kingdom of Swaziland.
48 Tanzania
Region: East Africa.
Colonial Master: Germany/ Britain.
Origin: Derived from” Tanganyika and Zanzibar”.
Meaning: Land of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
49 Togo
Region: West Africa.
Colonial Master: Germany.
Origin: Derived from the word “Togodo”.
Meaning: Land by the water.
50 Tunisia
Region: North Africa.
Colonial Master: France.
Origin: Derived from the Phoenician goddess” Tanith.
Meaning: Land of Tunis.
51 Uganda
Region: East Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Derived from Buganda.
Meaning: Land of the Ganada people.
52 Zambia
Region: Southern Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Derived from the Zambezi river.
Meaning: Land of the Great River.
53 Zimbabwe
Region: Southern Africa.
Colonial Master: Britain.
Origin: Derived from the karanga dialect of Shona “dzimba-dza-mabwe”.
Meaning: Stone Enclosure.
54 Western Sahara
Region: Northwest Africa
Colonial Master: Morocco
Origin: Named after the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Meaning: The Sahrawi Arabs
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burundi
- https://shinoveneblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/21/african-country-names-and-their-origin/
- https://www.fyicomminc.com/gaianews/speech35.htm