The European Squatter History of Africa: How Colonial Naming Rewrote Identity
The European Squatter History of Africa: How Colonial Naming Rewrote Identity
Many today praise Africa for its ancient wisdom, but much of its modern map and even the words we use to describe it were shaped by outsiders. European colonization didn’t just claim land — it claimed narrative power. Place names, borders, and cultural markers were overwritten to fit foreign ambitions, leaving deep scars on identity.
From Squatters to Mapmakers: How Europe Claimed Africa
The Berlin Conference of November 15, 1884, turned European presence in Africa from scattered trading posts into a continent-wide land grab. Colonial superpowers — Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway, Turkey, and even the United States — carved Africa into spheres of influence. Economics, not respect for local cultures, drove the map. By 1945, nearly every African nation lived under some form of colonial rule. Today’s terms like “North Africa” and “sub-Saharan Africa” still reflect this outsider lens.
Erasing Meaning: Why So Many Famous Names Aren’t African
Colonizers often treated African landscapes like blank slates for European glory. Lakes, mountains, and cities were renamed to honor monarchs, explorers, or foreign mythology — stripping away centuries of local meaning.
- Lake Victoria — British explorer John Hanning Speke renamed this vital Nile source after Queen Victoria in 1858.
- Victoria Falls — David Livingstone renamed the majestic Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”) for the same queen in 1855.
- Atlas Mountains — North Africa’s range got its name from Greek mythology, replacing Berber and Arab terms.
- Africa itself — Ancient Greeks and Romans shaped the word. One theory traces it to the Greek aphrike, meaning “without cold.”
Each renaming signaled control. Europeans wrote themselves into Africa’s geography, often silencing Indigenous languages and cosmologies.
Reclaiming Names
When we talk about Africa as “ancient and wise,” we risk forgetting how much of its visible identity was colonially engineered. Reclaiming names — from Mosi-oa-Tunya to local lake and mountain names — is part of reclaiming cultural memory. It’s also a reminder: wisdom alone doesn’t stop land grabs. Power, politics, and economics often decide who gets to name and define a place.
Further Reading
- That African Fabric You're Wearing Isn’t African
- About Neck Elongation Rings
- Lighthouses of Egypt and Morocco
- Mental Illness in Africa Taboos
- Kente Cloth Inspired by a Spider’s Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Europeans rename so many African places?
Names signaled ownership and control. Colonizers often honored European monarchs, explorers, or myths while erasing local identities.
Is reclaiming African place names important today?
Yes. Restoring original names helps preserve cultural memory and resist colonial erasure, but it’s a complex process tied to politics and identity.
Does colonial naming still affect Africa now?
Absolutely. Modern maps, tourism, and even national branding rely on colonial names, shaping global perception and sometimes local pride or resentment.
