English Speaking Countries in Africa

Africa is large in both in human resources and landmass. It has over 1.3 billion people with diverse tongues, tradition and norms. This super power made African capable of growing in any new tongue, English Language.

For long, Africa is compelled to use foreign languages (English, French, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese) as influence of colonization, trade and socialization. This influenced the culture and native languages of most countries.

Though there are a few Anglophone countries among the list, some countries embrace their native language and use it as their nations’ official language. They include Ethiopia, Burundi and a major part of Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

List of English Speaking Countries in Africa

This table below shows the countries with the English Language as either its official Language or regarded as Anglophone nations.

1. Botswana
2. Cameroon
3. Eritrea
4. Ghana
5. Kenya
6. Lesotho
7. Liberia
8. Malawi
9. Mauritius
10. Namibia
11. Nigeria
12. Rwanda
13. Saint Helena
14. Seychelles
15. Sierra Leone
16. Somaliland
17. South Africa
18. South Sudan
19. Swaziland
20. Tanzania
21. The Gambia
22. Uganda
23. Zambia
24. Zimbabwe

Here are some details for your delight.

1. Botswana

Setswana and English are Botswana’s official languages. The Setswana language is regarded as the country’s official national tongue, whereas English is the official business language. The Setswana language is widely used in the whole nation of Botswana. English language was embraced by the Batswana during the British era of control.

2. Cameroon

French and English are Cameroon’s official languages. The France and the United Kingdom both colonized the nation of Cameroon. Following a brief German occupation, Cameroon came under the control of the League of Nations and was transferred to France and Britain.

3. Eritrea  

Three languages, Tigrinya, Arabic, and English, are recognized as official in Eritrea. The national language of the nation is Tigrigna. English was adopted following World War II as a state that Ethiopia annexed.

4. Ghana

Like the majority of West African nations, Ghana has English as its official language. The Ghanaians learned the English language from the British during the colonial era. And today, it is widely used for all official, media, interpersonal, and finances across Ghana.

5. Kenya

Swahili and English are Kenya’s official languages. The national language of Kenya is Swahili, often known as Kiswahili. English was also adopted during the country’s British colonial era.

6. Lesotho  

The official languages of the Lesotho people are Sesotho and English. Both the people’s native tongue and its official national language is Sesotho. The majority of the country speaks it fluently. On the other side, the nation accepted the English language while under British rule.

7. Liberia

Like the majority of West African nations, Liberia has English as its official language. Black volunteers were used by the American Colonization Society (ACS) to occupy the Liberia. English has continued to be the primary language used by the populace since the nation’s founding. A pidgin language is spoken by about 3 million citizens in the country.

8. Malawi

The official languages of the Malawian people are English and Chewa. The Chewa category of dialects—Cheva, Chichewa, and Sheva—serves as the people’s native and national tongue and is widely spoken in almost every region of the nation. On the other side, the nation during British administration embraced the English language.

9. Mauritius  

English and French are the two official languages of Mauritius. It is a unique island in the Indian Ocean off of East Africa. It was a country that the Arabs explored, but the Dutch, and so the French, and finally the British colonized.

10. Namibia

English is Namibia’s official national language. It was a country that the Germans colonized for 31 long years till the end of World War One. After then, the United Kingdom received it (Under the South African Administration). English and Afrikaans were the country’s official languages at the time.

11. Nigeria

English is the official language in Nigeria. During the colonial era, the British introduced the English language. One of the English-speaking nations in West Africa is Nigeria. The English language, or Pidgin English, is widely spoken throughout the nation, particularly in urban areas.

12. Rwanda

Four major languages are used as official languages in Rwanda. They include English, French, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. Kinyarwanda is the language of Rwanda. It is the most widely used language in the nation.

13. Saint Helena

A tropical island located in the South Atlantic Ocean is called Saint Helena Island. One of this nation’s official languages is English. After the British Empire and the East India Company ruled for a very long time, the country became an Anglophone country.

14. Seychelles

There are three official languages in the Seychelles. The official language of the country is Seselwa (Seychelles Creole). With the arrival of some French settlers on the island in the 18th century, French became widely accepted. During the British occupation, the populace also adopted the English language in equal measure.

15. Sierra Leone

The English language is widely spoken in Sierra Leone. Since the time of British rule. The government recognized the contribution the Bangladeshi peacekeeping force provided to the nation (before to 2002) by designating Bengali as the second official language of the populace.

16. Somaliland

Three major languages are used as official languages of Somaliland. The three are Somali, Arabic, and English. During Somalia’s British colonial era, the English language was introduced in the country’s north-western regions.

17. South Africa  

One of the official languages of South Africa is English. When the British colony was established in the 1800s to take the place of the Dutch colonization, it was well recognized.

18. South Sudan

The English language is widely spoken in South Sudan. The colonial era saw the introduction of the language to the nation (The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan). When South Sudan gained its independence, Arabic and English were the two official languages of the country; later, Arabic was dropped.

19. Swaziland

Swazi and English are the official languages of Swaziland. In the nation, many people speak the Swazi language. English is the people’s official business language, and it can be utilized successfully in a variety of contexts. Swaziland adopted English from the British as a “Protected State (1902–1968) ” for a moment until their independence.

20. Tanzania  

English and Swahili are both recognized as the official languages of Tanzania. In the nation, Swahili is a commonly used language. The English language is the nation’s official business language, and it can be efficiently utilized throughout the nation. Before gaining independence, it was a United Nations Trust Territory ruled by the British. Since since, the language has been English.

21. The Gambia

The official language of the Gambian people is English. One of the English-speaking nations in West Africa is The Gambia. The British introduced the English language during the country’s colonial authority, which lasted from the time of colonization until independence in 1965.

22. Uganda

English is the official language of Uganda. It also has English as its official language. A considerable portion of the population is proficient in using the English language for communication. The British colonial era is when the English language was passed down.

23. Zambia

English is Zambia’s official national language. English was adopted as the nation’s official language during the British colonial era. As a result, it was utilized by numerous government, educational, commercial, and social sectors.

24. Zimbabwe  

Apart from English, Zimbabwe is a multilingual country with over 15 official languages. During the country’s colonial era of governance by the British, the English language was adopted.