It was discovered by South African astronomer Cyril Jackson at Johannesburg Observatory on 24 April 1931.
[3][4] It orbits the Sun at a distance of 2.3–3.0 AU once every 4 years and 4 months (1,572 days).
[5] Based on a generic magnitude-to-diameter conversion, Africa measures 13 kilometers in diameter, using an absolute magnitude of 11.8 and a standard albedo for Eunomian asteroids of 0.21, derived from 15 Eunomia, the family's largest member and namesake.
The body's rotation period, poles and shape still remain unknown.
[1][8] This minor planet was named for Africa, the large continent on which Johannesburg is located.