Chic African Culture Blog

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.

Three Mundri South Sudan African Women in Traditional Ankara or Kitenge fashion
Three Mundri South Sudan African Women in Traditional Ankara or Kitenge fashion 
List of historical names and current names of 54 African Countries

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.


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

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
Ethiopia
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
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


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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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