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“The name ‘Africa’ comes from the Afar people, who lived (and live), at the southern end of the Red Sea.”

~Professor Martin Bernal, author of Black Athena: The Afroasiatic Roots of Classical Civilization

The Kamites (ancient Egyptians) term, ‘Af-Rui-Ka,’ meaning “Place of Beginnings.” Canaanites (the Greeks called them Phoenicians) term, ‘Afar’ means, 'Dust.’ The Canaanites also used the term, 'Afryqah’ which denoted a 'Colony,’ referring to, Carthage (in Africa), the new city, being a colony of the Canaanites. An Arabic term, 'Ifriqiya,’ is often assumed to come from the Roman, though some argue that the Latin term came from the Arabic.

Afar: Afar is the name that people of the Northeast use themselves. In the Amhara language they are called Adal; Arabs call them Danakil (Dankali); Oromo refer to them as Adali and neighboring Somali groups use the term Odali. In Tigrayan they are the Teltal. Afar is a more or less homogenous ethnic group.

There are many Afar groups, but all consider themselves Afars. All groups speak the Afar language known as Afar-Af, except for the Irob group of the North, who speak Saho. Other groups are the Ankala, the Adhali and the Able (near Rarahita), the Uluhto, Ayrolasso, and Asabbakari, the Modhito (near Awsa), the Dammohoyta, and the Seka noblemen.

Other sources:

Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture 3-volume set (pages 12-13), by Carole Elizabeth Boyce Davies

Outlines of lectures on ancient history (originally published in 1850), by Charles John Abraham

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Publius Cornelius Scipio (at birth), was later called, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus I, was a Roman general and and statesman of the Roman Republic. His father’s name was, Publius Cornelius Scipio. One of his children’s name was, Cornelia Scipionis Africana. He was best known for defeating Hannibal at the final battle of the Second Punic War at Zama, a feat that earned him the agnomen 'Africanus,’ the nickname “the Roman Hannibal.” The term Africanus was indigenous to Africa and was passed down by the Berber people.

Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus I, was also a Roman general and statesman. He was the son of Publius Cornelius Scipio and the older brother of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus I. The names Africanus and Asiaticus were given in honor of military victories.

*The myth is that the term Africa, came from the Romans, however they are only responsible for the spread of the word usage which was applied to the entire land mass.