Should we change public names associated with colonialism?
During white minority rule, Zimbabwe was known as Southern Rhodesia while Burkina Faso was called Upper Volta
Today, Africa Daily’s Mpho Lakaje attempts to find out whose heritage is being preserved and whose is being sacrificed when we change the names of Africa’s roads, towns and cities.
Zimbabwe for example, changed its name after independence from white minority rule in 1980.
White people, however, remain very much part of that country.
Neighbouring South Africa has also been doing away with public names associated with the apartheid regime.
Some people are even calling for the nickname of the rugby national team, the Springboks, to be abolished because it represents “white supremacy”.
Is this the way to go?
Mpho is joined by Charlotte Ashamu, the Director of International Programs at Yale Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and Cameron Peters who runs Cape Town Heritage Tours.
NOTE: edited to correct Charlotte's job title on 20th Nov 2023.
Podcast
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Africa Daily
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