Tana

Tana is a term that appears in geography, onomastics, and culture. In Africa and Madagascar, it is used as a shorthand for important places, and in many languages it serves as a personal name.

In Madagascar, Tana commonly refers to Antananarivo, the capital city. Locally, the city is often called Tana, a shortened form that is widely used in speech and writing. Antananarivo is the political, economic, and cultural heart of Madagascar, located in the central highlands.

In Kenya, the Tana River is a major watercourse that rises in the highlands and flows to the Indian Ocean. It is the longest river in the country and gives its name to the coastal Tana Delta, an area of wetlands and farmland that supports wildlife and agriculture.

Beyond places, Tana is also used as a given name and surname in various cultures. It appears in literature and media as a character name or place-name element. The term thus functions as a geographic nickname, a personal name, and a cultural reference across regions.