Africa is a continent with a very old history. According to archaeologists Africa is the cradle of all mankind which means it was populated before the other planets. Again, it is believed that the Africans in history had different terms to identify themselves apart from the Greko-Roman term Africa.
Today, Africa is home to diverse people; with different tribes, cultures and races. It is the second-largest continent by size and population after Asia. Some tribes are considered the earliest inhabitants of the continent, some immigrating later while others left for other continents.
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African Map |
Africa's interaction with other continents also goes back in time. It is through these interactions that the continent got some of its names including the term Africa. Most historians agree that the term Africa was first used by the Romans and Greeks.
However, there are different accounts on the origin of its origins with some accrediting it with the Latin world.
It is widely believed that the conquest of the Carthage (now Tunisia) and other North African states by the Romans was the possible widespread use of the term. The Romas are said to name a Berber tribe 'Afri' 'Ifer' or 'Ifir'. Some thinkers believe that this would later result in the word 'Africa terra' which translates to 'the land of Afris'.
There are also those who believe that Africa was named after the famous medieval traveller and scholar Leo Africanus (1494 – 1554). This thought is disputed by Chancellor Williams in his book 'Destruction of the Black Civilization' Chancellor Williams says that al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan was baptized and given the name Africanus many years after the name had been used to refer to Africa.
In an article by South Africa History Online, Leo Africanus himself when writing about Africa is said to have suggested that the name of the continent came as a result of the Greek word 'a-phrike' which means 'without cold' or 'without horror'.
What was the original name of Africa?
Dr. Diop further explains that Africa was also called Ortigia, Corphye, Libya, and Ethiopia. Names such as the latter were used to describe black people. Diop links the people of West Africa and their, ancient ancestors, in the North as one people by race and culture.
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