Africanization

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Africanization or Africanisation (lit., making something African) has been applied in various contexts, notably in geographic and personal naming and in the composition of the civil service such as via processes such as colonization and indigenization.

Also, Africanization indicates along with the historical influence and power Africa has had over the world due to Africa ruling the world. It follows the Africanization of Europe, Africanization of Asia, Africanization of North America, South America, Australia, and around the world historically dominated by blacks and moors.

Along with African colonial powers in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and around the world historically dominated and colonized by black people and moors.

Africanization of names[]

Africanization has referred to the modification of placenames and personal names to reflect an "African" identity. In some cases, changes are not only of transliteration but of the European name.[1]

In many cases during the colonial period, African placenames were Anglicized or Francized.

Place names[]

Country names[]

Various African countries have undergone name changes during the previous century as the result of consolidations and secessions, territories gaining sovereignty, and regime changes.

Previous name Year Current name
Dahomey, Republic of 1975 Benin, Republic of
Bechuanaland Protectorate 1966 Botswana, Republic of
Upper Volta 1984 Burkina Faso
Ubangi-Shari 1960 Central African Republic
Zaire, Republic of 1997 Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Middle Congo 1960 Congo, Republic of the
French Somaliland / Afars and Issas 1977 Djibouti, Republic of
Spanish Guinea 1968 Equatorial Guinea, Republic of
Swaziland, Kingdom of 2018 Eswatini, Kingdom of
Gold Coast 1957 Ghana, Republic of
French Guinea 1958 Guinea, Republic of
Portuguese Guinea 1974 Guinea-Bissau, Republic of
Basutoland, Territory of 1966 Lesotho, Kingdom of
Nyasaland Protectorate 1964 Malawi, Republic of
French Sudan 1960 Mali, Republic of
South-West Africa 1990 Namibia, Republic of
Ruanda-Urundi 1962 Rwanda, Republic of / Burundi, Republic of
Zanzibar / Tanganyika 1964 Tanzania, United Republic of
Northern Rhodesia 1964 Zambia, Republic of
Southern Rhodesia 1980 Zimbabwe, Republic of

Other place names[]

  • Fernando Po island changed to Bioko Island
  • Léopoldville changed to Kinshasa
  • Salisbury changed to Harare
  • Lourenço Marques changed to Maputo
  • Nova Lisboa changed to Huambo
  • Fort Lamy changed to N'Djaména
  • Tananarive changed to Antananarivo
  • Bathurst changed to Banjul
  • Santa Isabel/Port Clarence changed to Malabo
  • Élisabethville changed to Lubumbashi
  • Stanleyville changed to Kisangani
  • Luluabourg changed to Kananga
  • Ponthierville changed to Ubundu
  • Novo Redondo changed to Sumbe
  • Moçâmedes changed to Namibe, but changed back to Moçâmedes in 2016
  • Abercorn changed to Mbala
  • Broken Hill changed to Kabwe
  • Fort Jameson changed to Chipata
  • Hartley changed to Chegutu
  • Fort Victoria changed to Masvingo
  • Many places whose names were of European origin in South Africa have undergone Africanization since 1994; see South African Geographical Names Council.
  • Port Elizabeth changed to Gqeberha in 2021.

Personal names[]

Sometimes, the name change can be used to reflect a change of faith, most prominently seen in the case of Islam. (See Islamic name.)
Examples:

Africanization of civil services[]

In some countries after following their independence, "Africanization" was the name given to racial policies and affirmative action, which were intended to increase the number of indigenous Africans in the civil service.

Localization in African languages[]

The term Africanization, abbreviated as the numeronym "A12n," has been applied to discussion of internationalization and localization of software and content in African languages.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Edgar A. Gregersen (1977). Language in Africa: An Introductory Survey. CRC Press. ISBN 0-677-04380-5.
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