This volume examines the discursive relations between indigenous, colonial and post-colonial legacies of place-naming in Africa in terms of the production of urban space and place. It is conducted by tracing and analysing place-naming processes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa during colonial times (British, French, Belgian, Portuguese), with a considerable attention to both the pre-colonial and post-colonial situations. By combining in-depth area studies research – some of the contributions are of ethnographic quality – with colonial history, planning history and geography, the authors intend to show that culture matters in research on place names. This volume goes beyond the recent understanding obtained in critical studies of nomenclature, normally based on lists of official names, that place naming reflects the power of political regimes, nationalism, and ideology.

The Dictionary of Southern African Place Names - now in its 4th edition - helps you sort your Komkhulu from your Kommetjie with the most comprehensive glossary of Southern African towns, villages, railway stations, mountains, rivers and beaches. The 9 000 short entries incorporate data from sources dating as far back as 1486, encapsulating the linguistic and cultural heritage of all the peoples of the subcontinent, past and present. In this highly readable book the expert authors take you on a fascinating journey of the highways and byways of Southern Africa. Whether you are a motorist, an adventurer or merely an armchair traveller, this book has a multitude of facts and details that will fascinate you. This is much more than a reference book - it gives an insight into what shapes a place and its people through our heroes, events, beliefs, values, fears and aspirations.

Over the last 30 years, a fascinating variety of new place names have been given in South Africa.

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject African Studies - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg (Institute of Philology), course: Names as Potential Source of Conflict, language: English, abstract: Identity is one of the basic needs of a human being, a community and even a nation. It defines who we are. Identity is formed through different aspects, such as history, culture, religion or language. During the apartheid rule in South Africa, the white minority devalued the identity of the black majority population by declaring every non-white citizen a second or third class human being. After the fall of the apartheid regime in 1994, the concept of separating different ethnic groups was diminished. The “Rainbow Nation” as a synonym for a peaceful and multi-cultural society emerged. Currently, South Africa tries to construct a common post-apartheid identity, which focuses on unity rather than segregation. Place names are an important element in the building of an identity, because they give a sense of belonging to the inhabitants. In South Africa, many place names reflect the apartheid history and are seen as a symbol of segregation (further details in chapter 4). In 1998, the government passed the South African Geographical Names Council Act, which was the starting point of the renaming process. This paper will examine the renaming process in the post-apartheid South Africa. It will focus on the importance of geographical names for the identity building. Due to the different ethnic groups living in the country, South Africa proves to be a good example of the struggle of uniting different cultures and heritages, which still plays an important role. This paper will discuss if the change of place names contributes to the formation of an all-encompassing South African identity.

Vols. for 1932-1940 contain Cape Geographical Society. Report.

Standardisation and the Wealth of Place Names – Aspects of a Delicate Relationship is a selection of double-blind peer-reviewed papers from the 6th International Symposium on Place Names that took place virtually 29 September – 1 October 2021. The symposium explored the issues of multiple place names vis-à-vis processes of standardisation. These studies collectively show that there is not a simplistic dichotomy between standardisation and the protection of cultural heritage. Some papers grapple with the implications and execution of standardisation processes, while others explore the emergence of alternative or unofficial names in response to top-down initiatives. The matter of signed place names also receives some attention. A number of papers excavate the layers of multiple place names, thereby contributing to our ‘wealth’ of toponymic knowledge. These proceedings are the product of collaboration between Southern African and international researchers. As such, it is a valuable resource to local as well as international scholars who are interested in the interdisciplinary field of toponymy.

Recognition, Regulation, Revitalisation: Place Names and Indigenous Languages is a selection of double-blind peer-reviewed papers from the 5th International Symposium on Place Names that took place 18-20 September 2020 in Clarens, South Africa. The symposium celebrated 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages as declared by the United Nations.

This book showcases current research into Indigenous and minority placenames in Australia and internationally. Many of the chapters in this volume originated as papers at a Trends in Toponymy conference hosted by the University of Ballarat in 2007 that featured Australian and international speakers. The chapters in this volume provide insight into the quality of toponymic research that is being undertaken in Australia and in countries such as Canada, Finland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Norway. The research presented here draws on the disciplines of linguistics, geography, history, and anthropology. The book includes meticulous studies of placenames in central NSW and the Upper Hunter region; Gundungurra cave names; western Arnhem Land; Northern Cape York Peninsula and Mount Wheeler in Queensland; saltwater placenames around Mer in the Torres Strait; and the Kaurna in South Australia.