Fact No. 1
While there are several different theories regarding the origin of the name "Africa," most etymologists believe the name derived from Afri, the title for a group of people who dwelt in North Africa near Carthage around the third century B.C. and -ca the Roman suffix for country or land.
Fact No. 2
Most scientists believe central Eastern Africa to be the origin place of both humans and great apes. The earliest remains of the modern human species Homo sapiens were found in Ethiopia and roughly 200,000 years ago.
Fact No. 3
The primary region of Africa is often called sub-Saharan Africa and excludes the mostly Islamic countries of North Africa: Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Sub-Saharan Africa includes 42 nations on mainland Africa and six island nations.
Fact No. 4
population experts estimate that there are at least 3,000 distinct ethnic groups (tribes) in Africa. Nigeria alone has more than 370 recognized tribes within its population.
Fact No. 5
Scientists believe Africa was once joined with Earth's other continents in a super-continent called Pangaea,. At the same time, Asia and South American split from Africa in the Late Cretaceous epoch (roughly 80 million years ago). The African continent remained relatively stable and has not moved much throughout time. Geologists believe the large island of Madagascar split from the African continent as early as 160 million years ago.
Fact No. 6
Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake globally, covering 26,830 square miles (69,490 squad kilometers).
Fact No. 7
Two of the most popular sports in Africa are soccer (called football) and cricket. Both sports were introduced during colonial times and have flourished on the continent due to the international success of African teams.
Fact No. 8
Islam became a prominent influence in North Africa by the seventh century A.D. and spread into sub-Saharan Africa through trade routes and migration. The population of North Africa is still considered widely Muslim today.
Fact No. 9
The "Evil Eye" is a term that originated in North Africa and the Mediterranean and is widely believed to cause harm, especially to the sick and vulnerable. In Morocco, it is common for men and boys to decorate the backs of their cloaks with bright red eyes to reflect and cast off the look of the evil eye.
Fact No. 10
Islam is currently the largest religion in Africa, with Christianity following closely behind. These two religions make up 85% of the continent's population, while just 15% are non-religious or follow traditional African religions.
Fact No. 11
Four of the five fastest land animals reside in Africa: the cheetah, the wildebeest, the lion, and the Thomson's gazelle. These animals can run at speeds above 50 miles per hour, with the cheetah reaching a top speed of about 70 miles per hour.
Fact No. 12
The scientist Charles Darwin was the first to suggest that the ancestors of human beings may have originated in Africa. However, prejudicial attitudes toward the continent made many people in the western world highly resistant to the idea until well into the twentieth century.
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