Name changes and National Identity

 

Name changes speak to a new identity. Name changes have been happening around the world since time immemorial. This is not a new phenomenon.

World maps are updated to accommodate any new changes to towns, cities, rivers or countries. Marriage is another example. Our one daughter was recently married and chose to take her new husband's surname. Two have become one - a new identity - and the name change reflects this. Name changes are almost always connected to a new identity. In adoption, a child who is placed in a new family will take the surname of that family. In the Christian faith we see in the Bible how God changed the names of certain people for specific identity purposes or for new direction/new beginnings.

Identity is the distinguishing characteristics or personality traits that are specific to a person, couple, family, religion, group of people or country.

National identity is a sense of nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by distinctive traditions, culture and language. (Oxford Dictionary)

A national identity can be built around liberal and democratic political values and around the shared experiences that provide the connective tissue allowing diverse communities to thrive. (www.abc.net.au)

As a collective phenomenon, national identity can arise as a direct result of the presence of elements from the 'common points' in people's daily lives : national symbols (flags, anthem, flowers, animals, statues, food, dress, music, names, landmarks and places), language (In South Africa 11 languages), the nation's history, national consciousness and cultural artifacts. (Wikipedia.org) (Italics - author's own comments)

The history of South Africa shows that different approaches have been employed to develop South African national identities. These approaches, however, could not produce a single national identity. When the Govt of National Unity (GNU) came to power after the first democratic national elections in April 1994, a new chapter was opened for the country to search for a new South Africanism. (https.//www.jstor.org/stable/41147123)

When there are societal power shifts in countries, name changes will often follow to align with the new identity that is being formed.

In South Africa we have the sad legacy of Apartheid and the national identity had been previously shaped by those in power. In 1994 a power shift took place and Apartheid was legally dismissed. It became critical to form a new national identity, which meant getting rid of anything that linked the present to the oppressive past. (I realise that not all name changes have been directly linked to Apartheid or colonization. Sometimes it's a case of newly acknowledging someone or a group of people.)

"National identity is a strong indicator of the level of social cohesion or polarization in a country." M. F Ramutsindela 

Our new flag stands for 'Unity in diversity, nation building and social cohesion.' (Gov.org.za) It makes sense then that anything that does not align with this vision and unity should be changed/replaced if we have any hope of finding a shared national identity.

We have already had many name changes, from streets to towns to cities to airports etc that people have become very accustomed to and normalized in our sub conscious. These are often renamed after people who have been heroes or icons in bringing about change and fighting for freedom from oppression.

Nathi Mthethwa had this to say, "It is part of transformation purposes. It is a critical component of the heritage landscape as a whole. The names of places we live in reflect the identity and cultural heritage of the people of South Africa."

'Own lane' or individual thinking versus 'big picture' or collective thinking is what can destroy transformation processes and unity that have already been achieved.

I live in a City and Province where there have been some recent name changes and this has had some positive acknowledgment of it from some, but huge pushback and indifference from many. I find this sad and hope that people would critically evaluate their responses. Let's look at this through a new lens this Heritage Day 2021 and rather welcome and embrace the changes that go towards finding a shared national identity. By using names that acknowledge those who fought against the past, names that acknowledge people who were first indigenous to this land and names that work towards the collective whole of this new South Africa we are still trying to build together. I know change can be difficult and it can take time for it to assimilate inside of us, but let's not look at it as a cancelling or a loss, but rather as an addition towards something new, something that will draw us forward into a far better, inclusive and diverse future. New beginnings, new hopes and new dreams for all.

Sounds the call to come together.
And united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom, in South Africa our land.