Five African Countries That Retained Their Colonial Names

Names hold significant meaning and are often a reflection of a country’s history and culture.

This is particularly true for African nations, many of which were once colonized by European powers, and whose names stem from that period. Some countries chose to change their names after gaining independence to reflect a stronger connection to their identity, while others opted to retain the colonial names. Here are five African countries that kept their colonial names:

1. Nigeria
   The name Nigeria was coined on January 8, 1897, by British journalist Flora Shaw, derived from the Niger River that flows through the country. Despite Nigeria’s full independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960, it retained this name. The neighboring Republic of Niger also shares its name from the same river.
2. Mali
   Mali was initially called French Sudan under French colonial rule. After gaining internal autonomy in 1958, the Sudanese Republic became the Federation of Mali with Senegal. It gained full independence from France on March 31, 1960, and kept the name Mali.
3. Sierra Leone
   Sierra Leone’s name originates from Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra’s mapping of Freetown harbor in the 15th century. He named it “Serra Lyoa” (meaning “Lion Mountains”). Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain on April 27, 1961, and retained the name.
4. Guinea
   Guinea derives its name from the Portuguese term “Guiné,” used in the 15th century to refer to the land south of the Senegal River. Guinea became independent from France on October 2, 1958, retaining the name of the region.
5. Cameroon
   Initially called “Rio dos Camarões” (River of Prawns) by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, the name evolved to Cameroon during colonial rule. After gaining independence from France in 1960 and the United Kingdom in 1961, Cameroon retained its colonial name.

These countries chose to keep their colonial names despite their journeys to independence, showcasing the complex relationship between colonial history and national identity.