Afrika, interjection and & noun
/ˈɑːfrika/
- Origin:
- In the Sintu (Bantu) languages, ‘Africa’.
A. interjection A political slogan of the African National Congress and other African nationalist groups. See also amandla. Cf. Izwe lethu, Mayibuye.
1958 A. Sampson Treason Cage 14The crowds shouted ‘Afrika!’ when the Bishop had finished, and the groups gradually thinned.
1990 T. Mathews et al. in Newsweek 19 Feb. 25The cop walked up, then, as Mandela braced himself, he flipped a thumbs-up salute, whispered ‘Afrika,’ and walked away.
B. noun
1. In the phrases Afrika sign, Afrika salute, the African National Congress salute of a clenched fist with raised thumb.
- Note:
- Subsequently largely replaced by the ‘Black Power’ salute of a raised clenched fist.
[1952 Drum May 35 (caption)Dr Dadoo, President of the Indian Congress, and Dr Moroka, President of the African Congress, making the Africa Sign on the platform at the meeting.]
1958 A. Sampson Treason Cage 11They cheered and thumped on the sides of the van, while bare grey arms giving the ‘Afrika’ thumbs-up salute emerged between the bars.
2. An Africanized spelling of ‘Africa’. So Afrikan noun and adjective, African noun1 and adjective1.
1981 B. Mfenyana in M. Mutloatse Reconstruction 296Adjustment to anything the westerners would throw at them became almost a reflex action on the part of the Afrikans.