Why Is south Africa called south africa?

Question

Why doesnt it have a proper country name like nigeria or ghana or kenya..Is it because they didnt know what to call it so maybe they just thought 'oh **** it this place is called south africa cuz its in the south..' ??

Well thers no country called west africa or east africa!!

Answer 1

interesting fact...

European explorers "discovered" South Africa as a direct result of European countries' rivalry with each other for dominance and the subsequent need for wealth which lead to the efforts to "discover" (by exploration) sea routes to trade with Asia and the Far East during the Age of Discovery. Far-off places, whether they became colonies or not, were regarded as sources for raw materials to be processed or enjoyed by Europeans.



South Africa is often referred to as The Rainbow Nation - a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and later elaborated upon by then-President Nelson Mandela as a metaphor to describe the country's newly-developing multicultural diversity in the wake of segregationist apartheid ideology.

The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. It borders the countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland. Lesotho is an enclave entirely surrounded by South African territory.

Answer 2

To elaborate on what shoe s said: South Africa was formed as a union ( like the United States of America, the Union of Socialist soviet Republics, etc.). The union was formed in 1910 from a British colony and three independent republics.
There is also a country called the Central African Republic.
If this question applies to the union (now republic) of South Africa, it also applies to the United States of America. Why doesn't the latter have a proper name like Canada or Mexico?

Answer 3

South Africa is a shortened version of the correct name, 'The Union of South Africa'. In 1910 the Union of South Africa was created by the unification of four areas, by joining the two former independent Boer republics of the South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) and the Orange Free State (Oranje Vrystaat) with the British dominated Cape Province and Natal. Most significantly, the new Union of South Africa gained international respect with British Dominion status putting it on par with three other important British dominions and allies: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Answer 4

The written history of South Africa begins with the accounts of European navigators passing South Africa on the East Indies trade routes. Subsequent to the first circumnavigation of the Cape in 1488. The name has stuck scince then. Why change it now? How often do counties change names?

Answer 5

That's pretty much it. Also it actually has an English name because a lot of people speak English there. Who knows what "Ghana" means in the local langauge. Maybe "West Africa"?

Answer 6

The same reason why USA is called the "United States of America" and not just one name like Brazil, Canada or Argentina, and its people are called the "Americans" as if it's the only country which is in both (2) American continents.
I totally agree with Vango.

Answer 7

he he.
me and my brother talked about it the other day. It is possibly the most unoriginal name on planet earth. But we love it anyway!!
Funny thing though... I spent a month in Germany as an exchange student and my host mother asked me where I live. I told her South Africa. She asked where that is!!
I HAD TO SHOW HER ON A MAP!! :-)
Viva South Africa :-)

Answer 8

Because it's in the south of africa.

Answer 9

It was called South Africa because of being in the south of Africa.
Well, there is a country called "Central African Republic", and two other countries that include the name of the continent they're on are the USA and Australia.

Answer 10

Because it's in the southern part of Africa.