Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30,300,000 km² (11,700,000 mi²) including adjacent islands, it covers 5.9% of the Earth's total surface area, and 20.3% of the total land area.Sayre, April Pulley. (1999) Africa, Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 0-7613-1367-2. With more than 840,000,000 people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for more than 12% of the world's human population.

Etymology

---

The name Africa came into Western use through the Romans, who used the name Africa terra — "land of the Afri" (plural, or "Afer" singular) — for the northern part of the continent, as the province of Africa with its capital Carthage, corresponding to modern-day Tunisia.

The Afri were a tribe — possibly Berber — who dwelt in North Africa in the Carthage area. The origin of Afer may be connected with Phoenician `afar, dust (also found in most other Semitic languages). Some other etymologies that have been postulated for the ancient name 'Africa' that are much more debatable include:

More on [ Africa ]

Africa - Twitter Search

No question. RT @Julienne_L: "Is Mobile Africa's Future?" Infographic from @IBM http://t.co/BYunpBgu #tc103 #ict4d
tmarente (Tom Marentette) Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:16:40 -0000
No question. RT @Julienne_L: "Is Mobile Africa's Future?" Infographic from @IBM http://t.co/BYunpBgu #tc103 #ict4d
@Fanipac Next time you bitch about not having food to eat think about people in Africa.
KyleRieth (Kyle Bradley Rieth) Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:02:50 -0000
@Fanipac Next time you bitch about not having food to eat think about people in Africa.
RT @tmarente: Microsoft Partners w/ British Council to promote digital schools in Africa http://t.co/eg1gYgem #ict #ict4e #digitalliteracy
Subscribe to Africa RSS feed