ALKEBULAN; Unveiling Africa’s True Name#28

????Happy Thursday.

One more day before we say goodbye to Black History Month.

As melanated people, our names are an important part of our identity.

If the continent of Africa had a dollar for every time someone misrepresented its history, we’d have fully funded reparations by now! But since we are still waiting on that cheque, let’s dive into some real history—before maps were redrawn, before names were erased, and before explorers showed up like uninvited guests at a cookout.

What Was Africa’s Original Name?

Before we called it Africa, this vast land had many names, depending on who you asked. Some historians believe the original name was Alkebulan, meaning "Mother of Mankind" or "Garden of Eden" in Arabic and indigenous tongues. Other ancient names included Ethiopia, referring to the "land of burnt faces" (a term used by the Greeks for dark-skinned people), and Kemet, the Black Land, which referred to ancient Egypt and its fertile soil.

Who Changed the Name and Why?

Enter the Romans, the OG colonizers. The name “Africa” is believed to come from the Latin word Afri, a term the Romans used for a Berber tribe in North Africa. Some say it derives from the Phoenician afar, meaning dust. Others argue it was named after the Roman general Scipio Africanus, who defeated Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) in the Punic Wars.

Colonizers did what they do best—rename things that weren’t theirs. Imagine someone walking into your house, calling your couch “Sofa Maximus,” and telling you that’s its name now. That’s what happened to Africa.

Who Lived in Africa Before European Explorers?

Before Columbus got lost and before European explorers arrived with compasses and superiority complexes, Africa was already home to some of the world's greatest civilizations. The Nubians, Kushites, and Egyptians ruled the Nile Valley, building pyramids. The Great Zimbabweans had a stone city that put medieval castles to shame. The Mali Empire, under Mansa Musa (the richest man in history), was making it rain gold across the Sahara.

Meanwhile, the Edo, Yoruba, Ashanti, Zulu, and countless other cultures thrived in their kingdoms. They had governance, trade, education, and even medical advancements.

Who Were the Real Africans?

The “real” Africans? That’s easy—Black people, indigenous to the continent. Before colonial borders were drawn, Africa was home to diverse ethnic groups with rich histories, languages, and traditions. Africans were traders, warriors, scholars, artists, and spiritualists who had built entire civilizations without needing “discovery.”

How Did Life Begin in Africa?

Science backs what Africans have always known: Africa is the cradle of humanity. Fossil evidence shows that modern humans (Homo sapiens) first emerged in East Africa around 200,000-300,000 years ago. Long before passports and immigration offices existed, our ancestors migrated, explored, and populated the planet.

In short, Africa is the mother, and the world is her children—some of whom have been ungrateful and forgetful.

The Call to Action: Reclaim the Narrative

So, what now? Knowing the truth means we must reclaim our history, teach it boldly, and refuse to let Africa’s story be told by outsiders. Whether through books, films, education, or AI-powered archives, we must amplify the richness of African civilizations beyond slavery and struggle.

Africa was great before colonization, and it still is. Let’s celebrate that not just in February, but every single day. Because the power of Blackness isn’t in our past—it’s in our future.

FYI

Here’s a list of indigenous African names of landmarks and sites that were changed by colonizers:

Waterfalls & Rivers

1. Mosi-oa-Tunya (Zimbabwe/Zambia) → Renamed Victoria Falls by British explorer David Livingstone.
2. Niger River (West Africa) → Indigenous names vary, such as Jeliba (Mandinka) and Isa Ber (Songhai). European explorers misnamed it "Niger" due to linguistic confusion.
3. Zambezi River (Southern Africa) → Retained its name but was often mapped with European spellings.
4. Lualaba River (Democratic Republic of Congo) → Often misidentified as part of the Congo River.

Mountains & Peaks

1. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) → The indigenous name is debated, but some sources suggest Kilemakyaro (Swahili) or Oldoinyo Oibor (Maasai). The name was altered under colonial rule.
2. Mount Kenya (Kenya) → Originally called Kirinyaga (Kikuyu) meaning "Mountain of Whiteness." The British named it "Kenya."
3. Table Mountain (South Africa) → Indigenous Khoisan people called it Hoerikwaggo, meaning "Mountain in the Sea."

Lakes

1. Lake Victoria (Uganda/Tanzania/Kenya) → Originally known by various local names, including Nalubaale(Luganda). Renamed by British explorers after Queen Victoria.
2. Lake Albert (Uganda/Democratic Republic of Congo) → Originally called Mwitanzige, meaning "the killer of locusts." Renamed after Prince Albert of Britain.
3. Lake Edward (Uganda/Democratic Republic of Congo) → Known as Rueru before being renamed after another British royal.

Islands & Coastal Areas

1. Madagascar → Indigenous people called it Madagasikara, but European explorers gave it the corrupted name "Madagascar."
2. S?o Tomé and Príncipe (Central Africa) → Originally had indigenous names before Portuguese colonization.
3. Cape Verde → Known by local West African names before the Portuguese renamed it "Green Cape."

Cities & Regions

1. Harare (Zimbabwe) → Originally called Salisbury by British settlers. The name was changed back to Harare after independence.
2. Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) → Previously named Léopoldville after Belgium’s King Leopold II.
3. Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo) → Formerly called élisabethville under Belgian rule.
4. Abidjan (Ivory Coast) → Indigenous names were replaced by French colonial influence.
5. Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) → Retained its name but was often written in a Europeanized way.

Forests & Deserts

1. Kalahari Desert (Southern Africa) → Called Kgalagadi by the indigenous San people.
2. Congo Rainforest (Central Africa) → Indigenous names vary, including Ituri and Lobaye.

Many of these names have deep cultural and historical significance, but colonizers often replaced them with European names for political, economic, or symbolic reasons. Some African nations have since restored indigenous names, but many colonial names remain.

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Happy reading!

Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze

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