South Africa should not be mistaken for Southern Africa. The first is the southernmost country on the African continent. The latter is a region which comprises 15 nations that also belong to the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Three of these countries are islands that are surrounded by the Indian Ocean: Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius.

Below, you will find short descriptions of each country:

#1 South Africa: Home to the Bafana Bafana

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) was once known as the Union of South Africa under British colonial rule which lasted until May, 1910. In 1961, the country became a republic and adopted its present name.

There are 11 official languages in South Africa including English, Afrikaans and Zulu. This multiculturalism is reflected in the nation’s motto: “Diverse People Unite”.

Strange as it sounds, RSA has three capital cities. Capetown houses legislative buildings, Bloemfontein is for the judicial while Pretoria, which is the most known, is for the executive. Johannesburg is the largest city in the country of 55 million people.

Bafana Bafana is the nickname of the football team which rose to fame in 1996 after winning the African Cup of Nations. It also qualified for the 1998 World Cup that was hosted by France.

One of the world’s greatest leaders, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who died in 2013, was born in this “Rainbow Nation”. Other well-known figures coming from different backgrounds are Oscar Pistorius, Steve Biko, Miriam Makeba, Trevor Noah and Nobel Peace Prize laureate F.W. de Klerk. 

As far as the economy is concerned, South Africa leads in the mining and minerals industry. It is also the second largest exporter of fruit in the whole world.

#2 Lesotho: A country within South Africa

The Mountain Kingdom or the Kingdom of Lesotho is one of the smallest countries in Africa. It is completely surrounded by RSA and boasts a population of 2 million people who predominantly speak English and Sotho.

The country was formerly known as Basutoland. People from Lesotho are called the Basotho.

The capital city is Maseru. The nation’s guiding motto is “Peace, Rain, Prosperity“. Somehow, the Gods must have Lesotho because it is Africa’s biggest exporter of clothes to the United States of America. Famous brands include Levi Strauss, Gap and Foot Locker.

Lesotho is a monarchy and is ruled by His Majesty, King Letsie III. It became an independent kingdom on 4 October, 1966. Its former rulers were the United Kingdom.

#3 Swaziland: The land with 14 Queens

Swaziland is one of Africa’s surviving absolute monarchies. This country has small proportions and shares a border with South Africa, just like Lesotho. It has two capital cities: Lobamba (legislative) and Mbabane (administrative).

There are about 1 100 000,00 Swazi and the languages that are mainly spoken are siSwati and English. The kingdom’s motto is “We are a fortress; we are a mystery; we hide ourselves away”.

Swaziland broke away from colonial rule on 6 September, 1968. Prior to that, it was under the official protection of the United Kingdom from 1903 to 1967.

Presently, the small kingdom is often in the headlines for its two annual events. The first is called the Incwala or the Kingship Ceremony which takes place in late December or early January. The second is the Umhlanga, also known as the Reed Dance, and is organised in August. In this eight-day cultural event, unmarried girls leave their homes and head to the royal village of Ludzidzini where they dance for the King. A maiden might be picked up by the King to be a royal bride. In recent years, this practice has become more and more controversial.

To date, King Mswati has had 14 wives and 30 children. Before him, his father, King Sobhuza II, married 70 times and sired 210 offspring. He is said to have left at least a thousand grandchildren at the time of his death in 1982. He was 83.

#4 Botswana: The Switzerland of Africa

This nickname comes as no big surprise. Botswana is one of the few African countries that enjoys both economic and political stability. It is also the world’s largest producer of diamonds despite the omnipresence of the Kalahari desert which covers 70 percent of the total area. This small landlocked country is said to be the fourth largest income in Africa.

“Rain” is the motto that the Batswana chose for their nation. English and Setswana are the dominant languages. There are about 2 million people in Botswana and most of them live the capital city, Gaborone.

30 September, 1966 was the date when Botswana, once known as Bechuanaland, became independent from British rule.

The Batswana take pride in their natural reserves and abundant wildlife species. Infact, there are more elephants in Botswana than anywhere else in the world.

#5 Namibia: The Land of the Brave

Namibia gets its name from the Namib desert, which is a predominant feature on its landscape. Namib means “open space” and is the world’s oldest desert featuring the Sossusvlei, the highest sand dunes on earth.

Namibia was formerly called German South West Africa until the end of World War I. Afterwards, it became known as South West Africa under South African rule.  It only became an independent state on 21 March, 1990. Its motto is “Unity, Liberty, Justice”.

There are about 2 million people on the vast lands of Nambia, making it one of the least densely populated areas in the world, after Mongolia. The languages that can be found in Namibia are English, German, Afrikaans, Nama and Herero depending on the ethnic group.

Windhoek, whose meaning is “windy corner“, is the capital city of this nation.

Namibia also values nature and has included environmental protection measures in its Constitution.

#6 Zimbabwe: The nation with 16 official languages

This country is mostly known to the world through its controversial leader, Robert Mugabe. He has been in power since the country’s independence, in 1980.

Zimbabwe can be roughly translated into “big houses of stone”.

The motto that drives the 13 million Zimbabweans is “Unity, Freedom, Work.” English, Shona, Ndebele and Chewa are the languages that are mainly used in this nation.

Harare is the capital city and is also nicknamed “Sunshine City“, thanks to its former glory as one of the most beautiful and cleanest cities in Africa.

The economic woes of the past decade have forced the citizens to use the US dollar since 2009, discarding the highly-inflated Zimbabwean dollar. At one time, the unemployment rate had peaked at a staggering 80 percent.

However, Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa, 90 percent to be exact. It also boasts internationally recognised and award-winning authors such as Tsitsi Dangarembga (Nervous Conditions), Dambudzo Marechera (The House of Hunger) and No Violet Bulawayo (We Need New Names).

Zimbabwe was formerly called Southern Rhodesia during colonial times and once belonged to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

It is home to the Victoria Falls, one of the most awe-inspiring waterfalls in the world.

#7 Zambia: The Air-conditioned State

It is Zambia’s moderate climate and its high plateaus that has earned the country its nickname.

“One Zambia, One Nation”: there goes the motto of this nation that was once called Northern Rhodesia by British colonial masters. The country freed itself from Britain in 1964 and chose Kenneth Kaunda as its first president. He would rule Zambians for 27 years until 1991. Since 2008, Zambia has lost two heads of state due to illness.

There are about 16,000,000 people in Zambia. The major languages are English, Bemba and Nyanja.

Lusaka is the capital city and is named after a chief. The country itself draws its name from the Zambezi, the fourth longest river in Africa.

Zambia used to be the third largest exporter of copper in the world after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

#8 Mozambique: The home country of Graça Machel

Two of Africa’s greatest sons married this equally great woman. Her name is Graça and she is the widowed wife of South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela, and former Mozambican president, Samora Machel. Graca hails from the Gaza Province in Mozambique. She is a a polyglot, humanitarian worker, human rights activist and former guerilla fighter.

Portuguese East Africa used to be name that Portuguese colonialists gave to present-day Mozambique. Back then, the current capital city, Maputo, was called Lourenço Marques. The country remained a colony for over five centuries and only gained its independence in 1975. A deadly civil war erupted two years later in which many people died and many others were displaced to neighbouring countries.

There are about 25 million people who live in Mozambique, the majority of whom speak Portuguese. Some of the languages that are used are Sena, Swahili and Tsonga.

“Republic of Mozambique” is the official motto of the Republic of Mozambique.

#9 Malawi: The Warm Heart of Africa

Until 6 July, 1964, Malawi, which means Flames, was called Nyasaland by Great Britain. It even once belonged to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Its capital city is found in the central region of the country and is called Lilongwe, named after the Lilongwe River. The motto is “Unity and Freedom”.

There are about 16 million Malawians. Their friendliness and generosity rightfully earned their country its nickname: “the warm heart of Africa”.

Madonna’s adoption of two children from Malawi, Mercy and David, put the country in the spotlight.

However, it is Malawian’s lake that brings the country its utmost pride. The lake covers one-third of the total surface area of the country. It is home to the largest species of fresh water fish in the whole world.

#10 Tanzania: Born from Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Modern-day Tanzania was once controlled by the Portuguese, the Germans and the British before becoming formally independent in 1961. The name of Tanzania is derived from the merger of two states: Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

Dodoma is Tanzania’s capital city since 1996. Previously, the commercial city of Dar es Salaam used to hold this privileged position.

The nation’s guiding motto is “Freedom and Unity”.  There are about 51 million Tanzanians who mainly speak English and Swahili.

Mount Kilimanjaro is Tanzania’s most known land feature as it is the highest mountain in Africa. Surprisingly, snow can even be found on its tips just like on Mount Kenya.

If you are a fan of hip hop, you cannot miss the popular Bongo Flava, which is reminiscent of American music.

#11 The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Former personal possession of Leopold II

When the Belgians colonised the DRC, the place was called Congo Free State. When Mobutu Sese Seko reigned over these vast lands for 31 years, Zaire was the name of the nation.

The DRC is the second largest country in Africa and boasts of abundant minerals. Unfortunately, it is also a war-torn country whose motto: “Justice-Peace-Work” doesn’t seem to work in its favour.

It also has a big population of 81 million people, making it the fourth most populated country in Africa.

Its capital city is Kinshasa and the main languages are French, Swahili and Lingala.

#12 Angola: The Kuwait of Africa

Angola is one of Africa’s fastest growing economies but this has not always been the case.

After gaining independence from the Portuguese in 1975, the country was embroiled in a costly civil war from which it only emerged in 2002. Inspite of this, Luanda, its capital city is nicknamed “the Paris of Africa” for its sophistication.

The country owes this to its rich natural resources that has allowed it to grow in such a short span.

There are about 24 million Angolans who speak Portuguese, Chokwe and Umbundu for the most part. Their motto is the Latin “Virtus Unita Fortior” which means: “Virtue is stronger when united”.

Angolans are known for their love of basketball, a sport in which they excel.

#13 Madagascar: I like to move it move it! I like to move it move it!

Most of us have already watched King Julian’s and Alex’s Madagascar and marvelled at the magnificent beauty of this island on the Indian Ocean.

The real Madagascar, which is the fourth largest island in the world, is indeed proud to host some of the rarest wildlife species that can be found on earth.

This makes it a popular tourist spot. The country derives much of its needed revenue from this sector.

Madagascar was once known as the Malagasy Republic. It freed itself from the grip of French colonial rule in 1960. It is now nicknamed the “Red Island” and its capital city is Anatananarivo.

It has about 22 million inhabitants and its motto is “Love, Fatherland, Progress.” The main languages are Malagasy and French.

#14 Seychelles: The home of the Seychellois

The Republic of Seychelles only have about 90,000 inhabitants, which makes it one of the least populated nations in Africa. Victoria is its capital city and it is equally very small.

This island country on the Indian Ocean is an archipelago. It is composed of 115 different small islands. It became independent from British rule on 29 June 1976. Its motto is “The End Crowns the Work“.

It is said that the Seychelles were uninhabited until the 1770s. It is also believed that this place was very popular with pirates such as Olivier Levasseur.

Nowadays, the Seychellois mainly speak French, English and Creole.

The female Coco de Mer, the world’s heaviest nut, and Esmeralda, the largest land tortoise on earth, all originate from the Seychelles.

#15: Mauritius: The Star and the Key of the Indian Ocean

During the heyday of exploration and colonisation, the main players of this game did not fail to see the strategic importance of this island. Thus, successively, the Arabs, the Portuguese, the French and lastly the British all tried their luck on this country.

The former names of Mauritius include Island Dina Mashriq, the Island of the Swan and Ile de France.

The island nation became formally independent from Britain on 12 March,1968. Its motto is the Latin “Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” meaning :”The star and the Key of the Indian Ocean“. Port Louis happens to be the capital city of Mauritius.

Approximately 1 200 000 Mauritians populate the island. The main languages that are spoken are English, French and Mauritian Creole.

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Further reading:

• Trivia about Namibia: http://www.pbs.org/edens/namib/trivia.htm
• http://www.mapsofworld.com/zimbabwe/facts.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Noah
• http://www.southafrica.info/