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History of Abibirim Abibirim simple means “blackness” or “African” and it is a combination of two Akan words “abibi” (Africa or black) and “mamu” (land). Combination of words is a great linguistics skill and pattern of Twi – speaking Akan among the Ashanti tribe of Ghana. Abibirim is a word that is not widely used by Africans in Africa or Africans in the Diaspora with this significance. It was first used on the international scene by Professor Wole Soyinka in 1977 at the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) to help eliminate the misgivings with the world “Africa” and all its descriptive association. Clearly, this was a way of promoting African identity through a campaign for a name change since the term “Africa” has at least seven origins with foreign derivative including, Latin, Greek, Arabic and, English. Historically, in addition to name change, promoting African identity by some African scholars and activist have advocated for return of Africans to Africa while others struggled for Africa Unity. Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which he helped, founded continued the struggle far beyond borders to push for his back-to Africa proposition. Garvey’s back-to-Africa philosophy symbolized black economic self-reliance, black people’s rights to political self-determination, and the founding of a black nation on the continent of Africa. To accomplish his vision, Garvey rented the Black Star Steamship Line (BSL) as a means to help Africans exchange goods and services. Not only was the BSL to facilitate trade but a means of transporting blacks back to Africa. In 1920, Garvey launched a program that was intended to build colleges, universities, industrial plants, and railroads in Liberia as part of development project for blacks should have a permanent homeland in Africa. Garvey’s philosophy was at odds with other leading figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois. Du Bois expressed the BSL was “original and promising,” he also said: “Marcus Garvey is, without doubt, the most dangerous enemy of the Negro race in America and in the world. He is either a lunatic or a traitor.” Du Bois feared that Garvey's activities would undermine his efforts toward black rights. His influence could not be abated and promoting his ideals in the art of oratory and through his newspapers, first Negro World and later the Blackman, Garvey perhaps influenced the discourse for the name change of Africa. Efforts by contemporary leaders to change name of the Africa has not been successful and so individual leaders decided to change the name of their respective country notable:
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