List of renamed places in Namibia

Since 1990, there have been a small number of places in Namibia which have been renamed, mainly for political, cultural, or linguistic reasons. Some names have been changed to remove colonial or apartheid references, often reverting to their original native language names. Other names (such as street names in Windhoek) have been renamed after foreign leaders or famous Namibians. Overall, Namibia has had fewer renamed places than neighbouring South Africa and Zimbabwe.

German period

Most place names in German South West Africa continued to bear German spellings of the local names, as well as German translations of some local phrases. The few exceptions to the rule included places founded by the Rhenish Missionary Society, generally biblical names, as well as

• Hoornkrans
• Sandfontein
• Stolzenfels
• Waterberg (Otjiwarongo)

Regions and constituencies

• Caprivi Region → Zambezi Region (2013)[1][2]
• Okavango Region → Kavango Region (1998)[3]
• Lüderitz Constituency → ǃNamiǂNûs Constituency (2013)[1][4]

Settlements

• Kalkfontein → Karasburg (1939)[5]
• Klipfontein → Bethanie
• Schuckmannsburg → Luhonono (2013)[1]

Streets

Swakopmund

• Kasier Wilhelm II Street → Sam Nujoma Avenue[6]

Windhoek

• Attie Potgieter Street → Willibald Kapuenene Street[7]
• Ausspannplatz Garten Street → Dr Agostinho Neto Street[7]
• Auswats Street → Fidel Castro Street[7]
• Bismarck Street → Simeon Kambo Shixungileni Street (2014)[8]
• Bülow Street → Frans Aupa Indongo Street (2001)[9]
• Central Avenue → Shanghai Street[7]
• Charl Marais Street → Hendrik Witbooi Drive[7]
• Curt Van François Avenue → Sam Nujoma Avenue (1993)[7][10]
• De Jager Street → Olof Palme Street[7]
• Duriker Street → Dassie Street[7]
• 2 Dorado Park Street → Evergreen Street[7]
• Fanie Du Plessis Street → Sean McBride Street[7]
• Gamsberg Road Avenue → Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue[7]
• Gevers Street → Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Street (2013)[11]
• Gloudina Street → Joseph Mukwayu Ithana Street (2001)[12]
• Gobabis Road → Sam Nujoma Drive (1993)[10]
• Gold Street → Michelle Mclean Street[7]
• Goring Street → Daniel Munamava Street[7]
• Hochland Road → David Hosea Meroro Road[7]
• Hostel Street → Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street[7]
• Jaguar Street → Shanghai Street[7]
• Jeans Street → Aviation Street[7]
• Joan Harrison Street → Robert Mugabe Avenue (1993)[7][10]
• Kaiser Street → Independence Avenue (1991)[7][9]
• Kalk Street → Dr. A. B. May Street[7]
• Keikebusch Estate Street → Estate Street[7]
• Klein Windhoekweg → Nelson Mandela Avenue (1993)[7][10]
• Knudsen Street → Frankie Fredericks Drive (2001)[7][9]
• Krupp Street → Andimba Toivo Ya Toinvo Street[7]
• Leutwein Street → Robert Mugabe Avenue (1993)[7][10]
• Lichtenstein Street → Wika Drive[7]
• Louis Botha Street → Axali Doëseb Street[7]
• Malcom Spence Street → Moses Tjitendero Street[7]
• Mission Road → Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Street (2013)
• Neser Street → Rev. Michael Scott Street[7]
• New Street → Willi Giess Street[7]
• New Street → Luketz Swartbooi Drive[7]
• New Street → Daniel Tjongarero Street[7]
• Okahanja Road → Hosea Kutako Drive[7]
• Omuramba Road → Gen. Murtala Muhammed Avenue[7]
• Omuzu Street → Omuzeme Street[7]
• Ongeama Street → Fumbe Street[7]
• Oripn Street → Andromeda Street[7]
• Otjivero Street → Amsas Street[7]
• Paul Kruger Street → Christa Davids Street[7]
• Perset Street → Mahatma Gandhi Street[7]
• Peter Müller Street → Fidel Castro Street[13]
• Pionier Road → Bernt Carlsson Road[7]
• Pool Street → Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street[7]
• Poplulier Street → Laurent-Désiré Kabila Street[7]
• Preuke Street → Bishop PDK Tjijombo Street (2015)[14]
• Rand Street → Hans-Dietrich Genscher Street[7]
• Reginald Walker Street → Jason Hamutenya Ndadi Street[7]
• Sabbat Street → Clemens Kapuuo Street[7]
• St. Moritz Street → Peter Nanyemba Street[7]
• Sterling Street → Mahatma Gandhi Street[7]
• Stübel Street → Werner List Street (2001)[9]
• Tal Street → Mandume Ndemufayo Street[9]
• Trinitatis Street → Paul Mogagabe Street[7]
• T.V. More Drive → Hosea Kutako Drive[7]
• Uhland Street → Dr Kenneth David Kaunda Street (2013)[15]

Airports

• J. G. Strydom International Airport → Hosea Kutako International Airport (1990)[9]

Other

• Windhoek: Zoo Park → Verwoerd Park → Zoo Park (2004)[16]

See also

• List of placename renaming in South Africa
• List of placename renaming in Zimbabwe

References

1. Smith, David (9 August 2013). "Namibia wipes colonialism off the map". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
2. Smith, David (26 February 2015). "Lüderitz v !Nami≠nüs: dispute over town's name divides Namibia". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
3. Fuller, B.; Prommer, I. (May 2000). "Background Readings" (PDF). Population-Development-Environment in Namibia. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis: xix.
4. "Lüderitz renaming misunderstood: Shanghala". Namibian Sun. 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013.
5. Tonchi, Victor L.; Lindeke, William A.; Grotpeter, John J. (31 August 2012). Historical Dictionary of Namibia. Scarecrow Press. p. 192. ISBN 9780810879904.
6. "Swakopmund | Namibia: History and unknown facts". www.namibweb.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
7. "Map of Windhoek Streets Renamed". www.map-of-namibia.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
8. "Energy 100FM". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
9. Mbenzi, Petrus Angula (12 May 2009). "The Management of Place Names in the Post-Colonial Period in Namibia" (PDF). United States.
10. Bader, Christian (1997). La Namibie (in French). Karthala Editions. p. 168. ISBN 9782865376445.
11. Sasman, Catherine (11 October 2012). "Shixwameni irked by renaming". The Namibian. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
12. Menges, Werner (3 October 2011). "Lawyer Vaatz fights on after street renaming". The Namibian. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
13. McIntyre, Chris (2007). Namibia. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 122. ISBN 9781841621876.
14. "Windhoek street named after Bishop Tjijombo". Lela Mobile. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
15. "Prominent street named after Kaunda | Informante". Informante. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
16. Allen, Jeremiah (2010). Namibia (Other Places Travel Guide). Other Places Publishing. p. 130. ISBN 9780982261965.