The British diaspora in Africa refers to English-speaking individuals primarily of British descent who live or were born in Sub-Saharan Africa. They predominantly reside in South Africa and other Southern African countries like Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, and Zambia, where English is often a primary language.
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 South Africa | 1,600,000 |
 Zambia | 40,000 |
 Kenya | 32,000 |
 Zimbabwe | 40,000 |
History
Colonialism
While British settlements had been established along the West African coast during the era of the Atlantic slave trade, significant and more permanent British settlement in Africa began toward the end of the 18th century, particularly at the Cape of Good Hope. Following the second British occupation of the Dutch Cape Colony in 1806, British settlers were encouraged to consolidate the eastern frontier of the Cape Colony, especially in Albany (“Settler Country”) during the Cape Frontier Wars. This settlement laid the groundwork for later colonial expansion in South Africa and beyond.
In 1843, the Crown established Natal as a British colony. After the Second Boer War ended in 1902, the British annexed the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State, and these regions were later incorporated into the Union of South Africa. Meanwhile, explorers like David Livingstone and mining magnates like Cecil Rhodes contributed to further British expansion. Rhodes founded the British South Africa Company in 1889, which controlled territories that would later be named after him: (Southern) Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).
In British East Africa (now Kenya), settlers expanded into the fertile “White Highlands,” encouraged by the British government. By the late 19th century, the discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa attracted settlers from Britain and other parts of the British Empire.
Post-War Decolonisation
After World War II, the rise of nationalist movements and decolonization pressures led to the gradual collapse of British control in Africa. In Southern Rhodesia (Rhodesia), the white minority unilaterally declared independence in 1965. Civil war ensued until 1979, ending with the establishment of Zimbabwe and majority rule in 1980. South Africa held its first universal democratic election in 1994, ending apartheid and white minority rule.
Culture and Language
White Africans, particularly those of British descent, have distinct cultural practices, such as the “braai” (barbecue). Their language, South African English, incorporates influences from Afrikaans and indigenous Bantu languages. Zimbabwean English, another dialect, also evolved from interactions with various local languages.
Influence in Arts and Education
The British diaspora has left a significant cultural mark through literature, music, and education. Writers like Doris Lessing and Nadine Gordimer and musicians like Johnny Clegg are notable figures. Universities in South Africa, such as the University of Cape Town and Rhodes University, were established with British influence and played a role in shaping higher education in the region.
Despite emigration due to economic and security concerns, many in the British diaspora continue to live and contribute to societies in Africa today.
Notable Africans of British descent
Explorers, politicians, civil servants, businesspeople and clergy
- Roy Bennett (1957-2018), Zimbabwean politician
- Verney Lovett Cameron (1844–1894), explorer
- Rob Davies (born 1948), South African Member of Parliament
- Rufane Shaw Donkin (1773–1841), founder of Port Elizabeth
- Tim Harris (born c. 1979), Shadow Minister of Finance in South Africa
- Emily Hobhouse (1860–1926), welfare campaigner
- Trevor Huddleston (1913–1998), Anglican archbishop, anti-apartheid activist and Isitwalandwe Medallist
- Sir Leander Starr Jameson (also known as “Doctor Jim”, 1853–1917), medical doctor and colleague of Cecil Rhodes
- Lucy Lloyd (1834–1914), philologist and explorer
- William Lloyd (1802–1881), Anglican clergyman
- Harry Johnston (1858–1927), explorer and civil servant
- Dick King (1813–1871), transport rider
- John Kirk (1832–1922), leader of Kenya settlers
- David Livingstone (1813–1873), medical missionary and explorer
- John X. Merriman (1841–1926), last Prime Minister of the Cape Colony
- E. D. Morel (1873–1924), British journalist, author and socialist politician
- Nicholas Mostyn (born 1957), British judge
- Elon Musk (born 1971), Internet and technology entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX and Tesla Motors
- Nicky Oppenheimer (born 1945), chairman of De Beers
- Mungo Park (1771–1806), explorer
- Cecil Rhodes (1853–1902), businessman and politician
- Guy Scott (born 1944), Vice President of Zambia
- Frederick Selous (1851–1917), explorer after whom the Selous Scouts were named
- Theophilus Shepstone (1817–1893), Zulu language interpreter and civil servant
- Mark Shuttleworth (born 1973), Internet entrepreneur, founder of Thawte and Canonical Ltd., space tourist
- Harry Smith (1787–1860), Governor of the Cape Colony and founder of Ladysmith, which he named after his wife
- Ian Smith (1919–2007), Prime Minister of Rhodesia, or Southern Rhodesia, from 1964 to 1979
- Richard Southey (1808–1901), Colonial Secretary and Treasurer, Lieutenant-Governor of Griqualand-West
- Henry Morton Stanley (1841–1904), colleague of David Livingstone
- George Steer (1909–1944), British journalist notable for his coverage of various conflicts during the 1930s and early 1940s
- Edwin Swales, V.C. (1915–1945), pilot killed in World War II
- Allan Wilson (1856–1893), leader of the Shangani Patrol, the African equivalent of Custer’s Last Stand
Authors, poets, academics and journalists
- Allan MacLeod Cormack (1924-1998), physicist
- Jani Allan (born 1952), journalist
- William Boyd (born 1952), writer
- Robert Broom (1866–1951), doctor and paleontologist
- Guy Butler ( 1918–2001), author, poet and playwright
- Roy Campbell (1901–1957), poet
- Jack Cope (1913–1991), author
- Bryce Courtenay (1933–2012), author
- Robyn Curnow (born 1972), journalist
- Alex Crawford (born 1963), journalist
- Richard Dawkins (born 1941), evolutionary biologist, author of The God Delusion
- John Edmond (born 1936), folk singer
- Percy FitzPatrick (1862–1931), transport rider and author
- Bruce Fordyce (born 1955), ultra-marathon runner
- Athol Fugard (born 1932), author, actor and playwright
- Alexandra Fuller (born 1969), author
- Peter Godwin (born 1957), author and journalist
- Nadine Gordimer (1923-2014), author, anti-apartheid activist and winner of 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature
- A. C. Grayling (born 1949), philosopher and academic
- William Hamilton (1891–1917), poet killed in World War I
- Glynn Isaac (1937–1985), palaeoanthropologist
- Louis Leakey (1903–1972), palaeoanthropologist
- Mary Leakey (1913–1996), palaeoanthropologist
- Richard Leakey (born 1944), palaeoanthropologist and conservationist
- Doris Lessing (1919-2013), author
- David Lewis-Williams (born 1934), archaeologist
- Alan Paton (1903–1988), author
- David Grey Rattray (1958–2007), historian
- Olive Schreiner (1855–1920), author
- Wilbur Smith (born 1933), author
- Allister Sparks (born 1933), investigative journalist, former editor of The Rand Daily Mail, Nieman Fellow and political commentator
- Edward Stourton (born 1957), journalist
- Winston Sterzel travel vlogger, documentary maker and businessman
- J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973), author
Sportspeople, musicians and actors
- Charlene, Princess of Monaco (born 1978), Olympic swimmer
- Saffron (born Samatha Sprackling), lead singer of Republica
- Kork Ballington (born 1951), motorcycle road racer
- Rory Byrne (born 1944), engineer and Formula One car designer
- Mike Catt (born 1971), rugby player
- Kitch Christie (1940–1998), rugby coach who took the Springboks to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup
- Johnny Clegg (also known as “The White Zulu”, 1953-2019), musician
- Sharlto Copley (born 1973), film actor, producer and director
- Kirsty Coventry (born 1983), Olympic swimmer
- Kevin Curren (born 1958), tennis player
- Andy Flower (born 1968), cricketer, coach of England’s national cricket team
- Chris Froome (born 1985), cyclist
- Richard E. Grant (born 1957), actor, director and screenwriter
- Butch James (born 1979), rugby player
- Watkin Tudor Jones (born 1974), rapper, music producer, satirist, Die Antwoord lead vocalist
- Dave Matthews (born 1967), musician
- Alexander McCall Smith (born 1948), author
- Mark McNulty (born 1953), golfer
- Percy Montgomery (born 1974), rugby player
- Gordon Murray (born 1946), Formula One car designer
- Steve Nash (born 1974), basketball player
- Kevin Pietersen (born 1980), cricketer
- Gary Player (born 1935), golfer
- Graeme Pollock (born 1944), cricketer
- Shaun Pollock (born 1973), cricketer
- Nick Price (born 1957), golfer
- Ray Price (born 1976), cricketer
- Matt Prior (born 1982), cricketer
- Jim Redman (born 1931), motorcycle road racer
- Barry Richards (born 1945), cricketer
- Jonty Rhodes (born 1969), cricketer
- Rory Sabbatini (born 1976), golfer
- Bobby Skinstad (born 1976), rugby player
- Heath Streak (born 1974), cricketer
- Graeme Smith (born 1981), cricketer
- Jordy Smith (born 1988), professional surfer
- Winston Sterzel travel vlogger, documentary maker and businessman
- Andrew Strauss (born 1977), cricketer
- Wrex Tarr (1934–2006), comedian
- Brendan Taylor (born 1986), cricketer
- Clem Tholet (1948–2004), folk singer
- Jonathan Trott (born 1981), cricketer
- Hugo Weaving (born 1960), actor
- Roger Whittaker (born 1936), musician
