Afrikaners are Africans because they’ve been on the continent since 1652, shaping a unique identity with Afrikaans, a language born in Africa, not Europe. They’re not just Boers or Europeans—centuries of history, culture, and even 4.8% African ancestry tie them to the land. Labels like "Boer" reflect a narrower history of Trekboers, while "Afrikaner" captures the broader, rooted African identity.