The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra —
"land of the Afri" (plural, or "Afer" singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province
of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day Tunisia.
The origin of Afer may either come from:
the Phoenician `afar, dust;
the Afri, a tribe — possibly Berber — who dwelt in North Africa in the Carthage area;
the Greek word aphrike, meaning without cold (see also List of traditional Greek place names);
or the Latin word aprica, meaning sunny.
The historian Leo Africanus (1495-1554) attributed the origin to the Greek word phrike (φρικε,
meaning "cold and horror"), combined with the negating prefix a-, so meaning a land free of cold
and horror. However, the change of sound from ph to f in Greek is datable to about the first
century, so this cannot really be the origin of the name.
Egypt was considered part of Asia by the ancients, and first assigned to Africa by the geographer
Ptolemy (85 - 165 AD), who accepted Alexandria as Prime Meridian and made the isthmus of
Suez and the Red Sea the boundary between Asia and Africa. As Europeans came to understand
the real extent of the continent, the idea of Africa expanded with their knowledge.
"land of the Afri" (plural, or "Afer" singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province
of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day Tunisia.
The origin of Afer may either come from:
the Phoenician `afar, dust;
the Afri, a tribe — possibly Berber — who dwelt in North Africa in the Carthage area;
the Greek word aphrike, meaning without cold (see also List of traditional Greek place names);
or the Latin word aprica, meaning sunny.
The historian Leo Africanus (1495-1554) attributed the origin to the Greek word phrike (φρικε,
meaning "cold and horror"), combined with the negating prefix a-, so meaning a land free of cold
and horror. However, the change of sound from ph to f in Greek is datable to about the first
century, so this cannot really be the origin of the name.
Egypt was considered part of Asia by the ancients, and first assigned to Africa by the geographer
Ptolemy (85 - 165 AD), who accepted Alexandria as Prime Meridian and made the isthmus of
Suez and the Red Sea the boundary between Asia and Africa. As Europeans came to understand
the real extent of the continent, the idea of Africa expanded with their knowledge.
Background and History of Africa
Africa is the second-largest continent after Asia. It is approximately four times larger than the United States and is
comprised of some 54 countries and states and islands. Africa's population numbered some 720 million in 1995.
The most populous states are Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zaire, and South Africa. If Africa's population continues to
increase at its present rate, it will double by the year 2019.
Many of the challenges faced by missionaries working in Africa can be traced to the history of the continent and
the impact of European colonization.
Colonizations
The modern European colonization of Africa was begun by the Portuguese, who established trading stations on
the coast in the 15th and 16th centuries. The interior of what Europeans called "the Dark Continent" was not
explored or colonized until the 19th century. By the early 20th century nearly all of Africa had been subjected to
European rule. Since World War II, 49 nations have gained their independence, but the colonial experience left
Africa with arbitrarily defined boundaries, a diversity of political systems and problems, and economies
dependent upon the industrialized world.
Africa's peoples remain sharply divided by race, language, religion, and politics in a complex cultural mosaic. In
1995, Africa contained about 13 percent of the world's population and was the second most populous continent
after Asia. Few of its states are ethnically homogeneous, and only a few have developed a strong sense of
national unity. For centuries traditional values prevailed. Africans identified first and foremost with members of
their own tribe or nation and avoided or competed with those who spoke a different language or were of a
different culture. The imposition of colonial boundaries without regard for the indigenous cultural mosaic
exacerbated divisions among the African people.
Language
The number of languages spoken in Africa has been variously estimated at between 800 and 1,700. Five major
stocks are generally recognized. Afroasiatic languages, dominant in North Africa and the Horn, include Berber,
Kushitic, Semitic, Chad, and Coptic languages. Superimposed on this linguistic mosaic are English, French,
Italian, Portuguese, German, and languages of the Indian subcontinent. English is the official language, or one of
the two official languages, in all ex-British colonies, excluding Tanzania, where Swahili has been adopted. French
is the official language of most former French possessions south of the Sahara. Arabic is the official language of
seven Saharan states. Numerous lingua francas, such as Lingala in Zaire and Mandingo in West Africa, are used
for commerce and in mixed-language areas. The multi-linguistic nature of most states has hindered nationalism
and perpetuates tribal and local identities.
Religion
The dominant religion of northern Africa is Islam, which replaced Christianity in the 7th century and spread west
and south across the Sahara and into the equatorial zones. With an estimated 155 million believers, Islam is the
fastest-growing faith in Africa. The Christian churches claim a membership of some 140 million Africans of whom
55 percent are Protestants. Many denominations are present, including a number of indigenous churches.
Christianity's earliest hold in Africa was in Egypt and Ethiopia, home of the Coptic church. European missionaries
introduced Christianity into sub-Saharan Africa during the 19th century. Approximately two-fifths of the African
population follows traditional religions and animism.
Education
Educational standards, facilities, and programs vary considerably and reflect differences in class, ethnicity, sex,
and location. In all countries literacy rates for women are lower than those for men, more males than females
attend primary school, and urban education is superior to rural. The richest countries invest more in education
than the poorest, and in most states, secondary school enrollments are less than half the primary school
enrollments. Only a small fraction of Africa's young people attend universities. Adult literacy rates range from 11
percent in Niger and 19 percent in Mali to 94 percent in Tanzania and 84 percent in Seychelles. Due to the lack of
prestigious universities in many African countries, qualified students often attend U.S. and European universities.
Health
There is an urgent need to improve general health and nutritional standards in Africa. A significant number of
persons in every country suffer from chronic malnutrition due to poverty, ignorance, and poor agricultural practices.
On a per-capita basis, food production declined from the 1970s into the 1990s, and malnutrition rates are the
highest in the world. In several countries of the Sahel, Guinea Coast, and equatorial Africa, as much as 40 percent
of the population are malnourished and suffer from such diseases as malaria, dysentery, schistosomiasis, and
yaws. Most of the doctors and general hospitals are situated in the capitals and towns, whereas the more
populated rural areas have few health facilities and high incidences of disease, malnutrition, and infant mortality.
Since World War II, national and international efforts to control mosquitoes, locusts, tsetse flies, and other pests
have increased, but AIDS is a growing problem, especially in central Africa.
Urban Landscape
Africa is the most rural and least urbanized of the continents. Less than a third of the population live in cities,
although several countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco, have large urban-industrial
areas. In most countries the largest city is the capital, which is often also the only city of significant size.
Urban-population growth rates exceed rural growth rates as more and more Africans migrate to the cities in
search of jobs, education, and security. Slums are growing, and urban living conditions are deteriorating in most
countries. Between the 1970s and the mid-1990s civil strife and political upheaval displaced millions of people in
Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Angola, Liberia, Rwanda, Mozambique, and other areas. Few countries have
been willing or able to accommodate the refugees despite United Nations assistance.
Economy
Despite Africa's great natural resources and energy potentials, industrialization is in its infancy. Africa contributes
only 1 percent of worldwide industrial production. South Africa is the only modern industrial state, although
manufacturing is becoming increasingly strong in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria. Handicaps to rapid
industrialization are weak agricultural economies, inadequate and poorly integrated transport facilities, insufficient
capital technology, political instability, a poorly trained workforce, a small purchasing power, and economic
policies and practices determined outside of Africa.
References
-Beckwith, C., and Fisher, A., African Ark (1993)
-Best, A. C. G., and deBlij, H. J., African Survey (1977)
-Europa Publications, Africa South of the Sahara (annual)
-Gordon, A. A. and D. L., eds., Understanding Contemporary Africa (1992)
-Harding, J., The Fate of Africa (1993)
-Martin, P. M., and O'Meara, P., Africa, 2d ed. (1987)
Africa is the second-largest continent after Asia. It is approximately four times larger than the United States and is
comprised of some 54 countries and states and islands. Africa's population numbered some 720 million in 1995.
The most populous states are Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zaire, and South Africa. If Africa's population continues to
increase at its present rate, it will double by the year 2019.
Many of the challenges faced by missionaries working in Africa can be traced to the history of the continent and
the impact of European colonization.
Colonizations
The modern European colonization of Africa was begun by the Portuguese, who established trading stations on
the coast in the 15th and 16th centuries. The interior of what Europeans called "the Dark Continent" was not
explored or colonized until the 19th century. By the early 20th century nearly all of Africa had been subjected to
European rule. Since World War II, 49 nations have gained their independence, but the colonial experience left
Africa with arbitrarily defined boundaries, a diversity of political systems and problems, and economies
dependent upon the industrialized world.
Africa's peoples remain sharply divided by race, language, religion, and politics in a complex cultural mosaic. In
1995, Africa contained about 13 percent of the world's population and was the second most populous continent
after Asia. Few of its states are ethnically homogeneous, and only a few have developed a strong sense of
national unity. For centuries traditional values prevailed. Africans identified first and foremost with members of
their own tribe or nation and avoided or competed with those who spoke a different language or were of a
different culture. The imposition of colonial boundaries without regard for the indigenous cultural mosaic
exacerbated divisions among the African people.
Language
The number of languages spoken in Africa has been variously estimated at between 800 and 1,700. Five major
stocks are generally recognized. Afroasiatic languages, dominant in North Africa and the Horn, include Berber,
Kushitic, Semitic, Chad, and Coptic languages. Superimposed on this linguistic mosaic are English, French,
Italian, Portuguese, German, and languages of the Indian subcontinent. English is the official language, or one of
the two official languages, in all ex-British colonies, excluding Tanzania, where Swahili has been adopted. French
is the official language of most former French possessions south of the Sahara. Arabic is the official language of
seven Saharan states. Numerous lingua francas, such as Lingala in Zaire and Mandingo in West Africa, are used
for commerce and in mixed-language areas. The multi-linguistic nature of most states has hindered nationalism
and perpetuates tribal and local identities.
Religion
The dominant religion of northern Africa is Islam, which replaced Christianity in the 7th century and spread west
and south across the Sahara and into the equatorial zones. With an estimated 155 million believers, Islam is the
fastest-growing faith in Africa. The Christian churches claim a membership of some 140 million Africans of whom
55 percent are Protestants. Many denominations are present, including a number of indigenous churches.
Christianity's earliest hold in Africa was in Egypt and Ethiopia, home of the Coptic church. European missionaries
introduced Christianity into sub-Saharan Africa during the 19th century. Approximately two-fifths of the African
population follows traditional religions and animism.
Education
Educational standards, facilities, and programs vary considerably and reflect differences in class, ethnicity, sex,
and location. In all countries literacy rates for women are lower than those for men, more males than females
attend primary school, and urban education is superior to rural. The richest countries invest more in education
than the poorest, and in most states, secondary school enrollments are less than half the primary school
enrollments. Only a small fraction of Africa's young people attend universities. Adult literacy rates range from 11
percent in Niger and 19 percent in Mali to 94 percent in Tanzania and 84 percent in Seychelles. Due to the lack of
prestigious universities in many African countries, qualified students often attend U.S. and European universities.
Health
There is an urgent need to improve general health and nutritional standards in Africa. A significant number of
persons in every country suffer from chronic malnutrition due to poverty, ignorance, and poor agricultural practices.
On a per-capita basis, food production declined from the 1970s into the 1990s, and malnutrition rates are the
highest in the world. In several countries of the Sahel, Guinea Coast, and equatorial Africa, as much as 40 percent
of the population are malnourished and suffer from such diseases as malaria, dysentery, schistosomiasis, and
yaws. Most of the doctors and general hospitals are situated in the capitals and towns, whereas the more
populated rural areas have few health facilities and high incidences of disease, malnutrition, and infant mortality.
Since World War II, national and international efforts to control mosquitoes, locusts, tsetse flies, and other pests
have increased, but AIDS is a growing problem, especially in central Africa.
Urban Landscape
Africa is the most rural and least urbanized of the continents. Less than a third of the population live in cities,
although several countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco, have large urban-industrial
areas. In most countries the largest city is the capital, which is often also the only city of significant size.
Urban-population growth rates exceed rural growth rates as more and more Africans migrate to the cities in
search of jobs, education, and security. Slums are growing, and urban living conditions are deteriorating in most
countries. Between the 1970s and the mid-1990s civil strife and political upheaval displaced millions of people in
Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Angola, Liberia, Rwanda, Mozambique, and other areas. Few countries have
been willing or able to accommodate the refugees despite United Nations assistance.
Economy
Despite Africa's great natural resources and energy potentials, industrialization is in its infancy. Africa contributes
only 1 percent of worldwide industrial production. South Africa is the only modern industrial state, although
manufacturing is becoming increasingly strong in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria. Handicaps to rapid
industrialization are weak agricultural economies, inadequate and poorly integrated transport facilities, insufficient
capital technology, political instability, a poorly trained workforce, a small purchasing power, and economic
policies and practices determined outside of Africa.
References
-Beckwith, C., and Fisher, A., African Ark (1993)
-Best, A. C. G., and deBlij, H. J., African Survey (1977)
-Europa Publications, Africa South of the Sahara (annual)
-Gordon, A. A. and D. L., eds., Understanding Contemporary Africa (1992)
-Harding, J., The Fate of Africa (1993)
-Martin, P. M., and O'Meara, P., Africa, 2d ed. (1987)
Geography:
Africa is the largest of the three great southward projections from the main mass of the Earth's surface. It
includes within its remarkably regular outline an area, of c. 30,244,050 km² (11,677,240 mi²), including the
islands.
Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the Isthmus of
Suez (transected by the Suez Canal), 130 km (80 miles) wide. (Geopolitically, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula east of
the Suez Canal is often considered part of Africa, as well.) From the most northerly point, Cape Spartel in
Morocco, a little west of Cape Blanc, in 37°21′ N, to the most southerly point, Cape Agulhas in South Africa, 34°
51′15″ S, is a distance approximately of 8,000 km (5,000 miles); from Cape Verde, 17°33′22″ W, the
westernmost point, to Ras Hafun in Somalia, 51°27′52″ E, the most easterly projection, is a distance (also
approximately) of 7,400 km (4,600 miles). The length of coast-line is 26,000 km (16,100 miles) and the absence
of deep indentations of the shore is shown by the fact that Europe, which covers only 9,700,000 km² (3,760,000
square miles), has a coast-line of 32,000 km (19,800 miles).
The main structural lines of the continent show both the east-to-west direction characteristic, at least in the
eastern hemisphere, of the more northern parts of the world, and the north-to-south direction seen in the southern
peninsulas. Africa is thus composed of two segments at right angles, the northern running from east to west, the
southern from north to south, the subordinate lines corresponding in the main to these two directions.
Africa is the largest of the three great southward projections from the main mass of the Earth's surface. It
includes within its remarkably regular outline an area, of c. 30,244,050 km² (11,677,240 mi²), including the
islands.
Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the Isthmus of
Suez (transected by the Suez Canal), 130 km (80 miles) wide. (Geopolitically, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula east of
the Suez Canal is often considered part of Africa, as well.) From the most northerly point, Cape Spartel in
Morocco, a little west of Cape Blanc, in 37°21′ N, to the most southerly point, Cape Agulhas in South Africa, 34°
51′15″ S, is a distance approximately of 8,000 km (5,000 miles); from Cape Verde, 17°33′22″ W, the
westernmost point, to Ras Hafun in Somalia, 51°27′52″ E, the most easterly projection, is a distance (also
approximately) of 7,400 km (4,600 miles). The length of coast-line is 26,000 km (16,100 miles) and the absence
of deep indentations of the shore is shown by the fact that Europe, which covers only 9,700,000 km² (3,760,000
square miles), has a coast-line of 32,000 km (19,800 miles).
The main structural lines of the continent show both the east-to-west direction characteristic, at least in the
eastern hemisphere, of the more northern parts of the world, and the north-to-south direction seen in the southern
peninsulas. Africa is thus composed of two segments at right angles, the northern running from east to west, the
southern from north to south, the subordinate lines corresponding in the main to these two directions.
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