'Afro-' originates from 'Africa', specifically the word 'Africus', where 'Afri' referred to the inhabitants of the region.

'Africus' transformed into the Latin word 'Afro-', and eventually became the modern English prefix 'Afro-' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to Africa or Africans', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.