The following is a list of contemporary ethnic groups of Africa. There has been constant debate over the classification of ethnic groups. Membership of an ethnic group tends to be associated with shared ancestry, history, homeland, language or dialect and cultural heritage; where the term "culture" specifically includes aspects such as religion, mythology and ritual, cuisine, dressing (clothing) style, and other factors.

By the nature of the concept, ethnic groups tend to be divided into subgroups, may themselves be or not be identified as independent ethnic groups depending on the source consulted.

Africa here is considered to be approximately delimited from South America by the South Atlantic Ocean; from Asia by the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and Gulf of Aden; and from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, Strait of Sicily, and Strait of Gibraltar.

Ethnic groups

The following groups are commonly identified as "ethnic groups", as opposed to ethno-linguistic phyla, national groups, racial groups or similar.Goran Burenhult, Traditional Peoples Today: Continuity and Change in the Modern World Illustrated History of Humankind, vol. 5 (1994).

+ Ethnicity Language(s) Primary homeland Subgroups, tribes & castes Religion(s) Abagusii Atlantic–Congo → Bantu → Gusii Kenya (Kisii County, Nyamira County, Kericho County, Bomet County) Abagetutu, Abanyaribari, Abagirango, Abanchari, Abamachoge, Ababasi Christianity, traditional African religions Acholi Nilotic → Luo → Acholi South Sudan, Uganda (Acholiland) Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Pader, Omoro Christianity, Islam Adara Niger–Congo → Plateau → Adara Nigeria (Benue State, Kaduna State) Christianity, Islam, traditional African religions Adjoukrou Niger–Congo → Kwa → Adjukru Ivory Coast (Dabou) Akradio, Agneby, Armébé, Gbougbo, Vieil-Aklodj, Débrimou, Lopou, Tiaha, Kpass, Orbaff, Bonn, Kaka, Kpanda, Mopoyem, Cosrou, Dabouly, Abraniamienbro, Bodou, Bouboury, Agbaille, Yassap, Vieux-Badien, Youhouli, N'gatty, Toupah Christianity Afar Afroasiatic → Cushitic → Afar Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia (Afaria) Asaimara, Adoimara Islam, Early Cushitic Afemai Atlantic–Congo → Edoid → Afenmai Nigeria (Edo State) Agenebode, Weppa, Oshiolo, Emokwemhe Iviagbapue, Auchi, Ihievbe, Afuze, Warrake, Iviukwe, South Ibie, Agbede, Sabongida Ora, Igarra, Ekperi, Jattu, Fugar, Aviele, Okpella, Uneme Ehrunrun, Uneme Osu, Iviukhua, Ososo, Uzanu, Uzebba, Iviukhua, Weppa, Okpella, Okpekpe, Somorika Christianity Afrikaners Indo-European → Germanic → Dutch → Afrikaans South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini Afrikaner-Jews, Boers (including Trekboers and Voortrekkers), Cape Dutch, Black Afrikaners, along with significant populations in Zimbabwe Christianity → Catholicism, Protestantism → Calvinism Irreligion → Agnosticism, Atheism Judaism Agaw Afroasiatic → Cushitic → AgawLanguage family; with some exceptions, all speakers of the various languages within this family are typically seen as one singular ethnicity. Ethiopia, EritreaNon-contiguous homeland. Throughout most of its history (if not its entire history), this ethnic group has lived in separate, isolated communities scattered throughout the countries/subdivisions listed. Bilen, Ximre, Awi, Qemant Christianity → Oriental Orthodoxy → Ethiopian Orthodoxy Aja Niger–Congo → Kwa → Adja Benin, Togo West African Vodun Aka Niger–Congo → Bantu → Aka Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo Traditional Aka religion Akans Niger–Congo → Kwa → Central Tano,Although Akan is the principal language of the Akan people, the Akan language has only recently been standardized. The majority of Akan people still speak their local dialects, which are usually considered by linguists to be separate languages altogether. Avikam–Alladian, Potou, Abé, Abidji, Attie, Ega Francosign → American Sign → Ghanaian Sign Adamorobe Sign, Nanabin Sign Ghana (Gold Coast)Due to historical migrations, about half of the Akan population reside in Ivory Coast. Abbé, Abidji, Ahafo, Ahanta, Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Alladian, Anyi, Ashanti, Assin, Attie, Avikam, Baoulé, Bonos, Chakosi, Egas, Evalue, Fante, M'Bato, Nzema, Sefwi (including House of Israel), Tchaman, Wasa Christianity Akie Nilo-Saharan → Nilotic → Akie Maasai Tanzania (Manyara Region) Traditional Akie religion Alur Nilo-Saharan → Nilotic → Alur Uganda (West Nile sub-region), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ituri Province) Christianity Amba Niger–Congo → Bantu → Amba Uganda (Bundibugyo District), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Ituri Province) Christianity, Traditional African religion Ambundu Niger–Congo → Bantu → Kimbundu Angola Christianity, Traditional African religions Amdang Furan → Amdang Sudan (West Darfur), Chad (Wadi Fira) Islam Americo-Liberians Indo-European → Germanic → English → Standard Liberian English Indo-European → English → Merico, Liberian Kreyol Liberia Christianity → Protestantism Amhara Afroasiatic → West Semitic → Amharic Ethiopia (Amharia) Christianity → Oriental Orthodoxy → Ethiopian Orthodoxy Anglo-Africans Indo-European → Germanic → English → South African English, Zimbabwean English South Africa, Zimbabwe, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Anglo-South Africans (with diaspora in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States) Anglo-Zimbabweans (with diaspora in the United Kingdom) Saint Helenians Christianity Anuak Nilo-Saharan → Nilotic → Anuak Ethiopia (Anuakia), South Sudan (Boma) Christianity Arabs Afroasiatic → West Semitic → Arabic Arab Sign, Sudanese sign languages North Africa Bedouins (including Beni Ades), Egyptian Arabs (including Copts, and Upper Egyptian Arabs), Maghrebi Arabs (including the Sahrawis), Dawada, Sudanese Arabs, Arab Christians (including Alexandrians), Rashaida, Baggara Arabs (including Shuweihat), Abbala Arabs, Azawagh Arabs, Diffa Arabs, Manga Arabs, Ababda, Arab-Berbers, Sephardim (including Moroccan Jews, Egyptian Sephardim, North African Sephardim, Maroka'im, Algerian Jews, Tunisian Jews, Libyan Jews, Berber Jews (including Mozabite Jews) Islam → Sunni Islam