Why do people refer to Africa as though it is a single country?

Question

Why is that when people mention Africa, they refer to it as though it is a single country and not a continent? When people say Europe they usually give the name of a European country. But why is it that when some people make reference to say Sudan or South Africa they add in Africa after the country like if the countries were states within a larger country and not the continent itself?

Answer 1

The western world does not refer to Africa like it is a country, they do like it is a jungle. very sad and Ignorant. It is just because that is the only way media sells. People don't want to pictures of sky scrapers of western like areas; those are boring. They prefer to see half naked painted people talking to animals; they want to see something new. It is all done by the media. Try magazines: Jungle pictures are enlarged and on front covers while civilized African pictures are so small you can miss them. Have you seen pictures of Nigeria, Ghana, or South Africa? No, but you sure have seen the jungles of Sudan, Kenya, and Nairobi.

Answer 2

It comes from the desire of Europeans and Americans to marginalize all African people. If they recognized the different languages and cultures in Africa they would have to change many of the fictitious beliefs about the inferiority of people of African descent. This is the same problem that has plagued the continent since the first enslaved Africans were taken by the Portuguese to the "New World". It is much easier to feel better about abusing a people who are not as cultured or sophisticated as you claim to be. To recognize the different people of the African continent would humanize them.

The resentment is still seen today in the way people automatically dismiss the strides made by African countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. As well as the assinine attempt to take Egypt out of Africa and make it a part of some mythical "Middle East". Anything of value or importance is de-Africanized so that it appears that people of African descent can only create war or spread disease.

Answer 3

The boundry lines and legal names of countries in africa change often. also within one african nation can reside three to four different peoples. Africa is still trying to sort out the mess that Europeans left behind. England divided countries differently than by the ethnic lines of the africans. This all provides a jumbled self image with many africans. By saying africa only they are trying to lessen any offense they might cause by refering to the wrong people.

Answer 4

As an American, I had NO CLUE that Africa has 80 some countries. It wasn't until I took an African studies class in college that I actually understood how large Africa is. How about this for a question, What country is Egypt in? I bet most Americans don't know.....

Answer 5

It's easier to deal with. Just like the word Asia. How would the people of USA would like it if the world started referring to us as the North Americans???? That means incorporating Canada and Mexico into the terminology too. You see, the people with money and power don't really care how. Africa as a whole doesn't have the financial power and thus no recognition. Follow the money.

Answer 6

You are right I have the same perception too!Maybe because of the project of the USA for AFRICA, remember the song WE are the world?That makes us more focus on the continent and not by the country as must be recognize with different category of developments!Also maybe you have the same cultures and traditions as many countries,unlike europe they are different in cultures everything and also asia as different countries,we are different in cultures,tradition except of being human beings!

Answer 7

We always refer like that!
For example, we refer to Chinese people, Greeks, Ancient, Australians, Americans and so on! The furthest we are the less differences we observe between people, or anything!
Similarly to Africa, how many have visited Africa? How many have studied Africa, her people, resources, climate, etc.? Just a few, and those refer to the different countries, regions, etc.

Answer 8

Because there are a lot of countries in Africa with shared problems such as AIDS, poverty, civil war. It is shorthand to be all inclusive. We wouldn't want to leave someone out. Sure, we know there is a BIG difference between South Africa and Somalia. Speaking of Somalia, I have not heard anything in news about this country for long long time. Hope things there are OK.

Answer 9

Open mouth wide and insert foot. Most people don't know because they lack knowledge, understanding and wisdom. I have found that people who have not left the state they were born in only know of that state. People need to explore other parts of the world in order to know and tell the difference between a city and a township, or a country compared to a continent. I agree... ignorance is world-wide.

Answer 10

Usually, it is just ignorance. Most kids I went to school with hated geography, and I loved it. I once worked with a guy who considered himself fairly knowledgeable, and during slow periods we used to play a game called: "Name as many countries in Africa as you can remember". I usually won. He always left out countries like Lesotho, Chad, Morocco, and Libya. It still bugs him, but now we work different shifts.