The Old Name of Africa: Today, Africa evokes images of giant savannas and rich cultures. But what did our forefathers call this enormous land before the name “Africa” was entrenched? In fact, the original name of Africa is a complicated topic with various solutions. Centuries ago on the continent or its regions, different peoples had their own words for them. In this post we go back through history and etymology to explore the different names Africa has been known by through the ages, from Alkebulan to Libya, Aethiopia, and more, and discover how Africa came to be known by its contemporary name. The Ancient Name of Africa

Indeed, even the shape of Africa is full of meaning today. But the continent was marked differently on antique maps. For example, 16th-century cartographers typically referred to North Africa as “Libya,” not “Africa.” As one historian writes, for most of history, “the Roman word ‘Africa’ was not used to describe the continent as a whole” but rather a narrow northern portion (about modern Tunisia). Before the 16th century, several sections of what is now known as Africa carried separate names, such as Libya, Aethiopia, Sudan, and Guinea, each referring to a specific region.

Alkebulan and African Perspectives: Indigenous Roots

African communities had names for the continent for a long time before European maps. The name “Alkebulan” is widely mentioned in Afrocentric traditions. Alkebulan, according to some sources, was an old indigenous name that meant “Mother” or “Garden of Eden.” For instance, a WorldAtlas article reads, “According to experts… Alkebulan was the original ancient name of Africa. This name means ‘mother,’ or… ‘the garden of Eden.’ Similarly, historian Cheikh Anta Diop, a noted professor of African history, said that “Alkebu-lan” was the name used by numerous African peoples and meant “mother.” Such narratives show that some African traditions referred to the country as Alkebulan, before the arrival of outsiders, in honor of its being the cradle of humanity.

The Old Name for Africa

Alkebulan—“Mother” (Garden of Eden)—is a term used by Moors, Nubians, and Ethiopians. Historians such as Diop have cited this.

Another theory (supported by Ivan Van Sertima) connects Afru-ika with an old Egyptian word for ‘motherland.’ Afru-ika—“Motherland”

Afraka (Dogon): A local title for their territory by the Dogon people of Mali, AfRAkan or Afraka, meaning “First-Sun-Soul.”

These native names emphasize the concept that early African societies held of their continent as the cradle or home of man. But it should be noted that the roots of Alkebulan are disputed. It’s a term that’s popular in many areas, but you won’t find it in ancient manuscripts outside of Africa, and some experts advise caution. It remains a potent symbol of African origin.

Roman and Greek Origins: The Naming of the Continent

The ancient Romans and Greeks were a major component of naming Africa from the outside. The very name “Africa” is of Roman origin. When the Romans defeated Carthage (modern Tunisia) in 146 BCE, they created a province called Africa Proconsular. The name is most likely derived from the nearby Afri (or Afer) people, a Berber group near Carthage. So, ‘Africa’ originally meant ‘the land of the Afri.’ The name of the Roman province eventually came to cover a larger territory.

Africa’s former name

“It is agreed by all historians that it was the Roman use of the term ‘Africa’ for areas of Tunisia and northern Algeria that ultimately… gave the continent its name.

The Roman province in the north of Africa continued to be known as Africa, while the surrounding Muslim era continued to refer to the same area as Ifriqiya. Eventually the Europeans used the name for the entire continent.

Greek intellectuals have their own names. In Greek geography, Libya (Greek: Λιβυη) was a collective term for all lands in Africa west of Egypt—what we now call North and West Africa. Indeed, Greek maps of the world separated the known world into Europa, Asia, and Libya (Africa). Asia was only the section of Egypt east of the Nile; the remainder of the region south of the Mediterranean was “Libya.” In ancient literature, “Libya” was a catchall covering much of the African land mass. Old Name: Africa

Later theories of language developed:

Leo Africanus (16th century) proposed that Africa derived from Greek a-phrike (“without cold”);

Mediaeval Latin writers associated it with aprica (“sunny”)

Legend links it to a Biblical character (Africus or King Afrikin ibn Kais)

Modern historians largely favor the notion of a Roman origin (‘Africa terra’). In short, the name Africa we use today is not ancient; it was born of Roman geographies, and only in early modern times did it apply to the whole continent.

Other Historical Names: Libya, Aethiopia, Ifriqiya and More

Africa’s Old Name While Africa was the general name, different regions had unique names. Here’s a brief overview of several historic names and what they mean:

Each phrase reflects a part of history. For example, the ancient Roman name was retained in medieval North Africa (Ifriqiya). Bilad al-Sudan was the name for the sub-Saharan territories (it’s where modern “Sudan” derives its name), but this table shows that no one “old name” applies to all of Africa—various peoples named portions of the continent by different names.

Key Takeaways & Insights

Several ancient names: Before modern maps were created, Africans and others had different names for various regions. The early Greeks termed much of Africa “Libya.” Other areas of the region were called Aethiopia, Sudan, or Guinea.

Indigenous perspective: Some African traditions refer to the whole continent as Alkebulan (“Mother”). This is a reference to Africa’s identity as the cradle of humanity. Other African-derived words that evoke this notion are “Afru-ika” (“motherland”) and “Afraka” (“First-Sun-Soul”).

Development of names: By the 16th–17th centuries, European explorers had introduced the name “Africa” for the continent, replacing prior regional names. As one historian observes, “By the end of the seventeenth century… the name ‘Africa’ had triumphed over [names like] ‘Libya’ or ‘Aethiopia’ to become the name for the whole continent as we know it today.”

Cultural importance The controversy about the “real” old name of Africa is not only academic but also of national pride and cultural remembrance. Sources like WorldAtlas and historians can agree on some facts, but oral history and tradition keep names like Alkebulan alive in the common memory. The African Old Name

The Old Name of Africa

Summary & Future Work

The quest for Africa’s ancient name is a reminder that names have a history. Whether we trace the origin of “Africa” to the Roman provinces or believe that Alkebulan is a lost inheritance, each narrative deepens our understanding of the continent. No single answer works for all customs and languages. The identity of Africa is a tapestry of names and meanings created over thousands of years.

We want to hear from YOU now: Do you know these names of old? Who is the most chatty? What are your thoughts here? Suggest some other wonderful legends you have heard. If you like this deep dive, you may also like our other articles on African history or subscribe for further insights into the rich fabric of global cultures. Because every name has a story—and Africa’s story starts at the beginning of humanity.