Names have great meaning and often tell a story about a country’s past and cultural identity. Many African countries were named by colonial powers, but some have since reverted to names that better reflect their heritage.
Below are five such countries.
1. Botswana
Botswana was known as Bechuanaland after British colonization in 1885. After independence in 1966, the country’s name was changed to Botswana, after the majority ethnic Tswana people.
2. Burkina Faso
Before gaining independence from France in 1960, the West African country was known as Haute-Volta, then the Republic of Upper Volta. In 1984, it became Burkina Faso, meaning “Land of Virtuous and Honest Peoples.”
3, 4. Zimbabwe and Zambia
British Protectorate of Rhodesia. It was named after Cecil John Rhodes, a southern African miner and politician.
A British protectorate was formed between the southern African countries, Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia.
Southern Rhodesia became a British self-governing colony in 1923 and Northern Rhodesia a British protectorate in 1924. In 1964, Northern Rhodesia declared independence and changed its name to Zambia, after the Zambezi River.
Southern Rhodesia was known as Rhodesia until 1979, when it became Zimbabwe Rhodesia. In 1980, Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain and dropped the Rhodesia part of its name, which comes from the medieval city of Great Zimbabwe.
5. Eswatini
In 2018, the country formerly known as Swaziland changed its name to the Kingdom of Eswatini. The country had been called Eswatini by King Mswati III since 2014, but its official name was revealed during the country’s 50th Independence Day celebrations.
The country’s name change was seen as a symbolic move to distance itself from its history of British colonization and avoid confusion with Switzerland.
6. Mozambique
Until 1975 it was known as Portuguese East Africa. Mozambique’s name is derived from Musa al-Biq, the name of a prominent Arab merchant who lived on the island in the early centuries.
7. Mali
Mali’s former name was French Sudan during colonial times. It was part of French West Africa, a union of French colonies.
After gaining independence in 1960, the country initially merged with Senegal to form the Federation of Mali, which was dissolved to become the Republic of Mali, named after the historic Empire of Mali.
However, Nigeria is still called by its colonial name.
