African country names. Africa is the oldest inhabited continent and the most attacked 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.
List of Historical African Countries
Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
11-3-2016
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 idea’s 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
and French Somaliland |
Djibouti
|
United Arab Republic (UAR)
|
Egypt, Syria
|
Spanish Guinea
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
Italian East Africa
|
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia
|
Abyssinia
|
Ethiopia
|
Gold Coast and Togoland (British Togoland)
|
Ghana
|
French Guinea
|
Guinea
|
Kenya Colony
|
Kenya
|
British East Africa or East Africa Protectorate
British protectorate |
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and parts of Somalia
|
Basutoland
|
Kingdom of Lesotho
|
Grain Coast
|
Liberia
|
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)
|
South Africa
|
Nubia
|
Sudan, Egypt
|
Tanganyika Territory
|
Tanzania
|
Zanzibar semi-autonomous
|
Tanzania
|
Senegambia
|
The Gambia, Senegal
|
Spanish Sahara
|
Western Sahara
|
Rhodesia, Northern
|
Zambia
|
Rhodesia, Southern
|
Zimbabwe
|
