Investigating the Onomastic necessity of using Afrocentric names over Eurocentric ones in the renaming of South African Geographical Features

Abstract

This article investigated the onomastic need to use Afrocentric names as replacements for Eurocentric ones when renaming South African geographical features. The article further showed how the use of Eurocentric names contradicts the transformation and decolonisation agenda for onomastic epistemic justice. Afrocentricity and Decoloniality were identified as relevant theories to underpin the study The article employed a qualitative approach where content analysis was used for data collection and analysis purposes. The data were randomly collected from names attached to stadia, university buildings and streets. The findings of the article established that there should be synergy and alignment between the renaming and transformation agenda. The article further articulated that the reason(s) behind the use of Euro-centric names over Afrocentric ones are onomastically obscure and opaque. The article recommended that committees and structures responsible for the screening and approval of new names should consider involving or co-opting onomasticians, so as to perform an accurate analysis and provide alternative perspectives. Lastly, experts in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) should also be co-opted by the South African Geographical Names Council.

Keywords

• afrocentric names
• decolonisation
• eurocentric names
• renaming
• south african geographic names council
• transformation agenda.