Скачать или смотреть Africa's Many Names

Let’s clear up something important: what did Africans themselves call the places they lived in historically? The truth is, Africa didn’t have one unified name for the entire continent because its people were incredibly diverse, and each region had its own identity. For example, in ancient Egypt, the land was called Kemet, meaning 'black land.' In the western part of the continent, the people of the Mali Empire referred to their homeland as Manden. Down in the south, the Shona people of Zimbabwe called their land Dzimbabwe, meaning ‘houses of stone.’ Meanwhile, the people of Madagascar referred to their island as Izao Tany or ‘this land.’

There was no single name for Africa because it was made up of different civilizations, each with its own language and culture. So, next time you think about Africa’s original name, remember—it was never just one name but many, reflecting the diversity of the people who lived there.