Historical geographies of place naming: Colonial practices and beyond

Abstract

European colonialism sought to inscribe order and meaning on non-European landscapes through the process of place naming. Naming or renaming was fundamental to the extension of imperial control over physical and human environments. This article offers a brief overview of the ways critical place name studies has addressed these colonial practices.In particular, the paper examines the power relationships inherent in place naming, asks questions about authority and authenticity in place naming, highlights the importance of sound in the performance of place names, and explores decolonial mapping practices as an opportunity to challenge neocolonial cartographies. I suggest that critical place name studies has been insufficiently attentive to orthography and that addressing the spelling of place names more directly offers important ways to understand how power and authority intersected with authenticity and reproducibility in colonial naming practices. I conclude by identifying the potential benefits to geographers of prioritising decolonial research by collaborating with indigenous peoples and incorporating indigenous practices within research.

Collective Memory and Memory-Making within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Heritage Landscapes: Indigenous Voices Amongst the Sotho- and Venda- Speaking Groups of Southern Africa

“…While many of these do have some form of physical representation, a cursory approach only restricts the observer to superficial references while missing the deep-seated meaning of diverse indigenous African heritage. For instance, the wealth of information buried in African names and how these contrast with the diluting-effect of foreign names has rarely been explored [5]. This paper explores how indigenous perspectives of heritage practice can enhance our understanding and management of cultural heritage within the Mapungubwe and Makgabeng Cultural landscapes in South Africa (Figure 1).…”

“…South Africa is no exception [3]. Archaeology was conceived at the height of prejudiced European colonial expansion, making it easier to overlook local African expressions while imposing foreign views and methods [5,6]. Parallel colonial processes also alienated most indigenous people from their heritage leading to the near total loss and disconnection between Africans and their memorialization activities [7].…”