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Several Africa countries that decide to changed their region names after gaining independence from colonial powers, as a way to assert their identity, culture, and sovereignty.
Below are 12 Countries that changed country name after gaining independence and starting nation leadership;
1. Ghana (formerly Gold Coast)
Colonial Name: Gold Coast
Independence Year: 1957
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: The new name, Ghana, was chosen to reflect the heritage of the ancient Ghana Empire, symbolising a break from colonial rule.
2. Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta)
Colonial Name: Upper Volta
Independence Year: 1960
Colonial Power: France
Reason for Name Change: In 1984, President Thomas Sankara changed the name to Burkina Faso, meaning “Land of Upright People” in the local languages, to instil national pride and unity.
3. Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia)
Colonial Name: Southern Rhodesia
Independence Year: 1980
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: The country was renamed Zimbabwe after gaining independence, inspired by the Great Zimbabwe ruins, symbolising a return to indigenous roots.
4. Benin (formerly Dahomey)
Colonial Name: Dahomey
Independence Year: 1960
Colonial Power: France
Reason for Name Change: The name was changed to Benin in 1975, to represent the broader ethnic diversity of the country rather than focusing on one ethnic group (Dahomey was linked to a specific kingdom).
5. Tanzania (formed from Tanganyika and Zanzibar)
Colonial Name: Tanganyika (Mainland) and Zanzibar (Islands)
Independence Year: 1961 (Tanganyika), 1963 (Zanzibar)
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: In 1964, the two territories merged to form Tanzania, a name combining Tanganyika and Zanzibar, reflecting the unity of the two regions.
6. Malawi (formerly Nyasaland)
Colonial Name: Nyasaland
Independence Year: 1964
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: Malawi was chosen after independence to reflect the local Maravi Kingdom, distancing itself from the colonial name.
7. Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia)
Colonial Name: Northern Rhodesia
Independence Year: 1964
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: Zambia was named after the Zambezi River, which runs through the country, symbolising a new beginning after British colonial rule.
8. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
Colonial Name: Swaziland
Independence Year: 1968
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: In 2018, King Mswati III renamed the country Eswatini, meaning “Land of the Swazis”, to reflect its pre-colonial heritage and reduce confusion with Switzerland.
9. Botswana (formerly Bechuanaland)
Colonial Name: Bechuanaland
Independence Year: 1966
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: Botswana, meaning “Land of the Tswana,” was chosen to reflect the identity of the dominant ethnic group, distancing the nation from its colonial past.
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)
Colonial Name: Belgian Congo (later Zaire)
Independence Year: 1960
Colonial Power: Belgium
Reason for Name Change: After independence, the name was changed to Zaire in 1971 under President Mobutu. In 1997, it was renamed back to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after Mobutu’s regime ended, symbolising a fresh start.
11. Lesotho (formerly Basutoland)
Colonial Name: Basutoland
Independence Year: 1966
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: The new name, Lesotho, means “Land of the Sotho,” reflecting the identity of the Basotho people and their desire for independence from colonial rule.
12. Mauritius (formerly Isle de France)
Colonial Name: Isle de France (under French rule) and later Mauritius (under British rule)
Independence Year: 1968
Colonial Power: Britain
Reason for Name Change: The name Mauritius remained, but after independence, the island emphasised its identity separate from its colonial past, promoting local culture and identity.
These name changes were largely symbolic, representing the countries’ efforts to reassert their heritage, cultural identities, and autonomy following colonialism.
