Azania

[ uh-zey-nee-uh, uh-zeyn-yuh ]

noun

1. the Indigenous name applied to South Africa by Indigenous Black nationalists or liberationists.

Azania

/ əˈzɑːnjə; əˈzɑːnɪə /

noun

1. another name for South Africa

Other Words From

• A·zani·an noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Azania¹

First recorded in 1700–10; from Latin Azānius “pertaining to a region in Ethiopia or between Kenya and Tanzania, Azanian,” from Greek Azanía

Word History and Origins

Origin of Azania¹

perhaps from Arabic Adzan East Africa

Example Sentences

Back in the 1970s and 1980s and indeed up until the 1994 democratic elections, there were lots of people who assumed liberation from apartheid would bring a change of name to Azania.

From BBC

Every once in a while I wonder if one of these days we might wake up to the news that South Africa has decided to rename itself "Azania".

From BBC

Azania Post reports that some citizens have shown reluctance to register their SIM cards for fear that the program is “a ploy by government to tap people’s phones.”

From Slate

Try telling that to Azania Stewart.

From Washington Post

Azania Stewart, a member of the British national basketball team, said yes.

From Washington Times