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

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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:

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Will South Africa stand up to Robert Mugabe? Alex Wagner @alex_wags #conflictdiamonds http://bit.ly/2xLcEu
Woman_Up (Woman Up P) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:23:15 -0000
Will South Africa stand up to Robert Mugabe? Alex Wagner @alex_wags #conflictdiamonds http://bit.ly/2xLcEu
Yet Al-Shabaab is likely to focus attempts on Israeli establishments in the horn of Africa http://is.gd/4M8m3
CeifiT (CeifiT) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:22:52 -0000
Yet Al-Shabaab is likely to focus attempts on Israeli establishments in the horn of Africa http://is.gd/4M8m3
Free badge/pin from @joinred. Get one too & help fight AIDS in Africa - http://bit.ly/422Qzw Ltd. supplies!
DorianHellfire (Dorian Hellfire) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:22:33 -0000
Free badge/pin from @joinred. Get one too & help fight AIDS in Africa - http://bit.ly/422Qzw Ltd. supplies!
West Africa: Agricultural Aid 'Bypasses Governments', Says NGO http://ow.ly/15ZrmH
CameroonTV (CameroonTV) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:22:00 -0000
West Africa: Agricultural Aid 'Bypasses Governments', Says NGO http://ow.ly/15ZrmH
@bohoe They're amazing! Not to mention a serious but positive reminder that our understandings of Africa are facile, flawed and fetishistic.
janeruffino (janeruffino) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:21:48 -0000
@bohoe They're amazing! Not to mention a serious but positive reminder that our understandings of Africa are facile, flawed and fetishistic.
has today sent out Boot Bags to all the UK league clubs so they can donate their used football boots to th kids of Africa....
bootsforafrica (Boots For Africa) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:21:44 -0000
has today sent out Boot Bags to all the UK league clubs so they can donate their used football boots to th kids of Africa....

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