Changing the names of places, infrastructure, and institutions in South Africa tends to be a flashpoint for controversy, as I’ve discussed in this forum on several occasions. A recent story from the Daily News gets at what some might see as the lighter side of the shifting nomenclature phenomenon:
The name eThekwini is to be consigned to history, but Durban will live on. That is the word from Mayor Obed Mlaba.
But he is on a mission to change the current “eThekwini” name for the whole metropolitan area because the name is embarrassing.
Mlaba said the meaning of eThekwini, which refers to the testicles of a bull and was the traditional name given to the shape of Durban bay, had caused him a fair amount of international embarrassment.
Mlaba was speaking after the tabling of the long-awaited policy document that will govern the roll-out of the second phase of street, building and natural landmark renaming.
Senior council officials are confident eThekwini will give way to the proposed new name, KwaKhangela, by the end of the year. Mlaba however reiterated that the city's name, Durban, would remain.
“If you unpack what eThekwini means, it just doesn't sound right. A lot of people overseas have asked: ‘What does eThekwini mean?’.
Then you start saying, ‘Well, you see, ummm, please pass me the milk for my tea’ because you are not proud to unpack what it means,” Mlaba said.
“But also, KwaKhangela is the name the royal King Shaka gave to this region when his military training ground was where the University of KwaZulu-Natal is now situated. It means ‘watch out (for any attackers)’, so as a military person he saw this part of the world being very strategic,” he said.
And although tight lipped on when the new name may be adopted, Mlaba said the change would “come out” of the policy document adopted on Tuesday.
Opposition parties were concerned that the ruling ANC planned to do away with the name “Durban”, but Mlaba said that had never been the intention. Durban was the name of the city, while KwaKhangela referred to the metropolitan municipal area.
I find the compromise aspect of some of these naming debates fascinating and laudable. But I suppose it's the bull testicles you’ll remember from this particular episode.
