Africana

American  

[af-ri-kan-uh, -kah-nuh, -key-nuh] / ˌæf rɪˈkæn ə, -ˈkɑ nə, -ˈkeɪ nə /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. artifacts or artistic or literary works of any of the nations of Africa reflecting geographical, historical, or cultural development.

2. a collection of materials, as books and documents, on African history or culture.

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Africana British  

/ ˌæfrɪˈkɑːnə /

plural noun

1. objects of cultural or historical interest of African origin

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Etymology

Origin of Africana

1905–10; Afric(a) or Afric(an) + -ana

Example Sentences

“The way people talk about sacrifice in Lucumí is often completely disconnected from how it actually works,” said Akissi Britton, an assistant professor of Africana studies at Rutgers.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

Born and raised in central Ohio, she moved to New York City in 2018 to pursue degrees in Journalism and Africana Studies at New York University.

From Salon • May 10, 2025

Dr Chipo Dendere, an assistant professor in Africana studies at Wellesley College in the US, argues that the necessity of "black tax" is rooted in colonialism.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2024

“The hard part is we’re going to keep cycling through this until we learn from our past,” said University of Pennsylvania sociologist and Africana Studies professor Camille Charles.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 12, 2024

Okay, so maybe Africana isn’t the right word.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes