Truths And Lies About How Africa Got Its Name

There have been different testaments about how Africa got its name. Some of these testaments have been adapted to different theories which include Roman Theory, Greek theory, Hindi theory, Africus theory, and Phoenician theory.

Africa is the second-largest and second-most populated continent in the world, after Asia. The continent has a landmass of over 11.7 million miles squared, with a population of over 1.2 million, accounting for 16% of the world’s population.

What was the Continent Called Before It Got The Name Africa?

Historians have given several names the continent was called before it became known as Africa. The Kemetic History of Afrika suggests the continent’s first name was Alkebulan. Alkebulan is the oldest and only word of indigenous origin. It meant “Garden of Eden” or the “Mother of Mankind”. The name was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khar-Haddans (Cathargenians), and Ethiopians.

In The Kemetic History of Afrika, it was stated that Africa was also called Ortigia, Corphye, Libya, and Ethiopia before what is called now.

According to Historians, the name Africa was initiated by Europeans and came into use through the Romans, after the three Punic battles, which were between 264 BC to 146 BC, and were led by Publius Cornelius Scipio and the people of Carthage.

Theories About How Got The Name Africa Came About

Various theories suggest that the word “Africa” has both Greek and Latin origins. However, this section covers the different theories that were created by historians as to the origin of the name “Africa”.

There are about 9 theories about how Africa got its name. They are Roman, Greek, Hindi, Africus, Phoenician, Arabic, Jewish, Berber, and Egyptian Theories.

1. The Roman Theory

One of the most popular theories about how the continent got its name, is that it is derived from the Roman name for a tribe living in northern Tunisia, these people were later believed to be the Berber of Tunisia. This theory purports that the Romans named these people, “Afri”, “Afer”, and “Ifir”.

However, there is no evidence to support the claim that it is from the name “Afri” that the Romans derived the term Africa.

2. The Greek Theory

Another school of thought purports that the name was derived from the continent’s climate. Historian, Leo Africanus connotes in this theory, that the greek word “Phrike” means “cold and horror”. However, when the prefix “A” is added the word became “Aphrike”, which translates to “the land that is free from cold and horror”.

This theory is also known as the Weather Theory.

3. The Hindi Theory

This theory purports that the name Africa came from Indian traders who came to the continent through the Horn of Africa. The traders called it “Apara” which means “comes after” or “a place in the west”.

The word “Apara” has Sanskrit and Hindi origins. It is also known as the Geographical theory.

4. The Africus Theory

Also called the Yemeni theory, this theory states that the continent derived its name from a Yemenite chieftain who invaded the northern part of the continent. It was said that he settled on the land after he conquered it, and called it “Afrikyah”.

However, the Yemenite king wanted to be immortalized, which led him to order the continent to be named after him.

5. The Phoenician Theory

This school of thought suggests that the name “Africa” was derived from two Phoenician words “Friqi” and “Pharika”. These words are said to mean “Corn” and “Fruits” individually, and when merged, they meant “the land of corn and fruits”.

The name has also been connected with the Phoenician word “Afar” which translates to “Dust”. Another theory states the name of

is associated with another Phoenician word “Faraqa” or “Faraq”, which means ” Separation” or “Diaspora”.

6. The Arabic Theory

This Theory connotes that the name of the continent was coined from the Muslim kingdom of “Ifriqiya” which means “Sunny place”, which is in modern-day Tunisia. However, this theory is speculated by most historians to be derived from the Latin theory.

7. The Jewish Theory

1st-century Jewish historian, Flavian Josephus, purported that the continent was named for Epher, Abraham’s grandson according to the Bible, in Genesis 25:4. He added that it was his descendants that invaded Libya.

He states that the Hebrew name for the continent, “Auphirah”, is written as “Ophir” in many Jewish records.

8. The Berber Theory

Some Historians believe that the Romans got the name from the region where the Berbers lived. This theory asserts that the word “Africa” stems from the Berber word “Ifri”, which is translated to “Cave”.

This theory suggests that the Berbers called Africans “Cave dwellers”. The same word is found in “Banu Ifran”, which is found in Algeria and Tripolitania. The tribe is originally from “Yafran” also known as “Ifrane”, which is native to northwestern Libya.

9. The Egyptian Theory

This theory states that the word “Africa” is indigenous to the continent and that all the other theories are inaccurate. It states the Romans and Greeks started using the word, after coming into contact with the Africans, in situations such as the Greek conquest of Egypt and the Roman conquest of North Africa and Egypt.

According to Historian, Ivan Van Sertima, the word “Afru-ika” translates to “Birthplace” or “Motherland”, while “Af-rui-ka” translates to ” to turn toward the opening of the womb or birthplace”.

Another version of this theory states that the Pharoah of the 4th Dynasty of Egypt, had the name, Africa. It is believed by some, because modern Egyptologists and others often mix the order of the hieroglyphs that the ancient Egyptians wrote the name as “Kh-afre”, “Afre-kh” or “Africa”.

Although there is no scientific proof that proves that any of the theories are true, the continent has borne the name Africa since the late 17th century. At the time, it was used to refer to the northern part of the continent. It is now the only name of the continent known by the whole world.