This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African-American man, was killed by a racist policeman during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident sparked widespread protests in the US and around the world, with many calling for an end to systemic racism.
As the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum, statues of figures from America's slavery era and colonial past were toppled or removed. Companies rushed to clean up their racist branding, and apologies flowed in from governments and institutions.
In Africa, the protests sparked a renewed push to rename streets, schools, and landmarks that bear the names of European explorers, colonial officials, and missionaries. In Kampala, a petition to rename colonial-era street names gathered over 5,000 signatures and was presented to the government.
The struggle to get rid of colonial-era names has been ongoing in Africa since independence, with mixed success. In some countries, like Ghana, the effort has been successful, but in others, it has been met with resistance.
As the protests continue, it's clear that the issue goes beyond just renaming streets and landmarks. It's about confronting the legacy of colonialism and its ongoing impact on African societies.
Mr. Onyango-Obbo is a journalist, writer, and curator of the Wall of Great Africans. @cobbo3
