List of historical names and current names of 54 African Countries
African country names in history and current
Africa is the oldest inhabited continent and the most colonized land, people and culture. Africa encountered colonization, occupation, and aggression from the United Kingdom, Germany, Romans, Arabs, Danish, Berbers, Turkish Ottoman Empire, the French, Portuguese, Italians, the Dutch and countless internal battles.
The colonization of Africa imposed boundaries without regard to culture or heritage of native Africans. Hence the historical changing of the names of African countries.
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Three Mundri South Sudan African Women in Traditional Ankara or Kitenge fashion |
With a mix of Arabic, Danish, German, Indian, African, French, Italian, Chinese and European influences Africa is truly a melting pot of language, culture and ideas and has undergone numerous changes in names throughout her history.
The 54 Historical Names of Today's African Countries |
Former Country Name
|
Today’s Name
|
Republic of Dahomey
|
Benin
|
Bechuanaland
|
Botswana
|
Upper Volta, Burkina
|
Burkina Faso
|
Urundi
|
Burundi
|
Central African Empire and Ubangi-Shari
|
Central African Republic
|
Belgian Congo, Katanga and Zaire
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
Afars and Issas Territory
|
Djibouti
|
and French Somaliland and French Somaliland
|
Egypt, Syria
|
Spanish Guinea
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
Italian East Africa
|
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia
|
Abyssinia
| |
Gold Coast and Togoland, British Togoland
|
Ghana
|
French Guinea
|
Guinea
|
Kenya Colony
|
Kenya
|
British East Africa or East Africa Protectorate
|
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and parts of Somalia
|
Basutoland
|
Kingdom of Lesotho
|
Grain Coast
| |
Malagasy Republic
|
Madagascar
|
Nyasaland
|
Malawi
|
Songhay, French Sudan and Sudanese Republic
|
Mali
|
French West Africa
|
Mauritania, The Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Benin.
|
Spanish West Africa
|
Morocco, Western Sahara
|
Portuguese East Africa Província Ultramarina de Moçambique
|
Mozambique
|
German Southwest Africa Deutsch-Südwestafrika
|
Namibia
|
Hausaland
|
Niger, Nigeria
|
Republic of Biafra
|
Nigeria
|
Bourbon Island
|
Reunion Island (French territory since 1946)
|
Ruanda
|
Rwanda
|
Benadir
|
Somalia
|
Union of South Africa, Bophuthatswana, Cape Colony, Republic of Ciskei, Kaffraria Transkei
| |
Nubia
|
Sudan, Egypt
|
Tanganyika Territory
|
Tanzania
|
Zanzibar semi-autonomous
|
Tanzania
|
Senegambia
|
The Gambia, Senegal
|
Spanish Sahara
|
Western Sahara
|
Rhodesia, Northern
|
Zambia
|
Rhodesia, Southern
|
Zimbabwe
|

Thank you for learning the historical names of African countries