Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to, or descent from, the Angles, England, English culture, the English people or the English language, such as in the term Anglo-Saxon language. Anglia and England both mean land of the Angles, a Germanic people originating in the north German peninsula of Angeln, that is, the region of today's Lower Saxony that joins the Jutland Peninsula.

The term Anglo-African has been used historically to describe people living in the British Empire in Africa, as well as people of mixed British and indigenous African ancestry. The Anglo-African Who's Who and Biographical Sketch-Book published in London in 1905 contains details of prominent people living in Africa at that time. British settlement in the Cape gained momentum following the second British occupation of the Dutch Cape Colony in 1806. The government encouraged British settlers in Albany ("Settler Country") in 1820 in order to consolidate the British Cape Colony's eastern frontier during the Cape Frontier Wars against the Xhosa.

Today Anglo-Africans are broadly defined as English-speaking Africans who have adopted Anglo cultural norms and who live in or come from Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority live in South Africa and other Southern African countries including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana and Zambia. Their first language is usually English. 

Anglo-Africans generally enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and sports. The braai is a popular way to gather with friends and family. Other popular pastimes include visiting game reserves, hiking, camping and recreational angling. There is a particular appreciation of country life and farming. Anglo-Africans generally prefer holidaying at the coast. In other ways, the culture of the British diaspora derives from their British ancestry. Afternoon tea – in fact, tea at any time of day – is still widespread as are hobbies such as gardening and reading.

Anglo-Africans speak a unique dialect of English, developed over the centuries by interaction with many other local languages. Anglo-African English is influenced by Afrikaans and the Bantu languages. The considerable indigenous influence can be seen in many words such as braai, trek, lekker, muti, yebo or ja and are commonly used and interchangeable with English.