Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

What is a person from Africa called?

Clans and tribes means more than citizenship, nationality and land boarders throughout Africa.

List of nationality names in Africa.


One classic disastrous example of ethnic or tribal group identity displacing nationality is in East Africa. 

Tutsi insurgents continue to fight waging guerrilla battles in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, the ethnic strife that sparked the slaughters in Rwanda and Burundi continue in the regions. 

The Tutsis as cattle-herders were often in a position of economic dominance to the farming Hutus and in many areas, like Rwanda, the minority Tutsis ruled the Hutus, 84% of the total population.

Homeless family caused by Rwandan Hutu insurgents.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world and a history of xenophobic attacks by people who accuse citizens of other African countries, as well as Asian countries, of coming to steal their jobs. 

The South African government does not collect data on attacks or threats against foreign nationals. About 70% of foreigners in South Africa come from neighboring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. 

The remaining 30% is made up of people from China, Malawi, UK, and Namibia, eSwatini, India and other countries.

A person's nationality is where they are a legal citizen whether by birth, parentage or naturalization pledge. Nationality is membership in a particular nation indicating where a person was born alive or holds citizenship with an African country.

Surrounded by water from all directions, Africa is a continent with 54 sovereign states and 54 different ways her counties were named without input from indigenous folks.

The land on the African continent was carved up by colonialists based on economics and that is way tribal ethnic groups outweigh nationality and citizenship. 

Foreign overseas traders and exporters solely according to the business and trade economies roughly divided Africa into four coasts; Pepper Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, and the Slave Coast. 

The Berlin Conference was not the start of the Scramble for Africa; history shows that the first areas to be settled in the African regions were those along the shoreline.

An ethnic group is a category of people who belonging to or deriving from the cultural, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country. People who identify with each other based on similarities, such as common ancestral, language, social, and cultural experiences.

Many African people refer to their ethnic or tribal group first then their nationality. 


List of nationality names in each African country.

African County African Citizen Term Largest Tribal Ethnic Group
Algeria Algerian Arab-Berber 99%
Angola Angolan Ovimbundu 37%
Benin Beninese Fon and related 38.4%
Botswana Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural) Setswana 79%
Burkina Faso Burkinabe Mossi 52.5%
Burundi Burundian Hutu 85%
Cabo Verde Cabo Verdean Cameroon Highlanders 31%
Cameroon Cameroonian Creole mulatto 71%
Central African Republic Central African Baya 33%
Chad Chadian Sara 25.9%
Democratic Republic of the Congo Congolese or Congo Four largest tribes Mongo, Luba, Kongo, Mangbetu 45%.
Republic of the Congo Congolese or Congo Kongo 48%
Cote d'Ivoire Ivoirian Akan 32.1%
Djibouti Djiboutian Somali 60%
Egypt Egyptian Egyptian 99.6%
Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean Fang 85.7%
Eritrea Eritrean Tigrinya 55%
Eswatini liSwati singular, emaSwati plural Swazi 84.3%
Ethiopia Ethiopian Oromo 34.4%
Gabon Gabonese Fang 32%
The Gambia Gambian Mandinka or Jahanka 33.8%
Ghana Ghanaian Akan 47.5%
Guinea Guinean Fulani or Peul 33.9%
Guinea-Bissau Bissau-Guinean Fulani 28.5%
Kenya Kenyan Kikuyu 22%
Lesotho Basotho Sotho 99.7%
Liberia Liberian Kpelle 20.3%
Libya Libyan Berber and Arab 97%
Madagascar Malagasy Merina 26%
Malawi Malawian Chewa 32.6%
Mali Malian Bambara 34.1%
Mauritania Mauritanian Black Moors 40%
Mauritius Mauritian Creole 86.5%
Morocco Moroccan Arab-Berber 99%
Mozambique Mozambican Makhuwa 20.3%.
Namibia Namibian Ovambo 50%
Niger Nigerien Hausa 53.1%
Nigeria Nigerien Hausa and Fulani 29%
Rwanda Rwandan Hutu 84%
Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tomean Mestico 48%
Senegal Senegalese Wolof 38.7%
Seychelles Seychellois No indigenous population.
Sierra Leone Sierra Leonean Temne 35%
Somalia Somali Somali 85%
South Africa South African Zulu 21 %
South Sudan South Sudanese Dinka 35.8%
Sudan Sudanese Sudanese Arab 70%
Tanzania Tanzanian Bantu 95%
Togo Togolese Ewe 26.5%
Tunisia Tunisian Arab 98%
Uganda Ugandan Baganda 16.5%
Zambia Zambian Bemba 21%
Zimbabwe Zimbabwean Shona 82%

The nationality for Niger and Nigeria is Nigerian therefore when some says they are Nigerian now you know to clarify if thier nationality is Niger or Nigeria.

Many African people refer to their kinship, tribe, and ethnic group first than their nationality or citizenship.

Kinship, clan, tribe, ethnic group and citizenship definitions.

What is Kinship? Kinship refers to the social relationships that exist between individuals or groups based on biological, marital, or adoptive ties. 

Kinship systems vary widely across cultures, but typically involve the identification of various types of relatives, such as parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

 Kinship can play an important role in shaping social organization, behavior, and attitudes in many societies. For example, in some cultures, kinship ties determine inheritance rights, marriage partners, and patterns of social support and obligation. 

Kinship can also be an important source of identity and belonging for individuals, providing a sense of connection to a wider family or community. 

 What is a clan? A clan is a social group or community that is typically based on familial or kinship ties. 

Clans are smaller and more localized than tribes, and their members usually have a strong sense of loyalty and obligation to their clan. 

Clans are often found in societies with a strong sense of lineage or ancestry, such as in many traditional societies or among certain ethnic groups. 

Clans may be defined by shared characteristics such as a common ancestry, language, culture, or geographic location. In some societies, clans may have a formal structure and hierarchy, with leaders or elders who make decisions and resolve disputes within the group. 

Clans may also have specific roles and responsibilities within the larger society, such as providing protection or participating in political decision-making. In modern times, the term "clan" can also be used more broadly to refer to any close-knit group or community with shared values or interests. 

For example, online gaming communities may refer to themselves as clans, even though they may not have any ancestral or familial ties.

 What is a tribe? A tribe is a larger social group that is typically composed of multiple clans or families.

 A tribe is a social group or community that is typically characterized by a common ancestry, language, culture, and territory. Tribes are often found in traditional societies, particularly among indigenous peoples. 

In some cases, a tribe may be organized around a particular social or economic activity, such as hunting, fishing, or farming. 

Tribes usually have a shared sense of identity, and members of a tribe may see themselves as distinct from members of other tribes. 

Tribal societies often have their own customs, traditions, and beliefs, which are passed down from generation to generation. 

In many cases, tribal societies have a formal structure and hierarchy, with leaders or chiefs who make decisions and resolve disputes within the group.

 These leaders may be chosen based on a variety of factors, such as age, experience, or lineage. In modern times, the term "tribe" can also be used more broadly to refer to any close-knit community with shared values or interests. 

For example, a group of people who share a common interest in music or art may refer to themselves as a tribe. 

 What is an ethnic group? An ethnic group is a group of people who share a common culture, language, religion, traditions, and ancestry. 

Ethnic groups are distinguished from one another by their unique characteristics and are often defined by their cultural, linguistic, and historical heritage. 

Members of an ethnic group often have a strong sense of identity and belonging to their group, and they may share a common history, territory, or ancestry. 

Ethnic groups may also have distinctive cultural practices, such as music, dance, clothing, and cuisine. It is essential to note that the concept of ethnicity is socially constructed, and there is often significant overlap between ethnic groups.

 What is nationality or citizenship? Citizenship is not based on family ties or cultural affiliations, but rather on a person's legal status and relationship to a particular state. 

Nationality refers to the legal or cultural identity of a person belonging to a particular nation or country. It is a social and legal concept that typically denotes the country of origin or citizenship of an individual. 

Nationality can be acquired by birth, naturalization, or by marriage in some cases. Nationality is often used interchangeably with citizenship, which refers to the legal status of a person as a member of a particular country or nation. 

However, citizenship generally has more specific legal rights and obligations associated with it, such as the right to vote, work, and receive government services. 

Nationality can also have cultural or ethnic connotations, as it may be associated with a particular language, customs, traditions, and beliefs. It is an important aspect of a person's identity and can play a significant role in shaping their sense of belonging and community.

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