Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has confirmed plans to rename the entrances of Etosha National Park, moving away from names rooted in the colonial era. The proposal follows a motion introduced in parliament by Swapo legislator Tobie Aupindi, who called for the southwestern entrance, currently known as Galton Gate, to be renamed Otjovazandu Gate.
The present designation commemorates Sir Francis Galton, a 19th-century English statistician, explorer and anthropologist, often described as a pioneer of eugenics. His theories on racial hierarchies influenced subsequent ideologies of scientific racism, including those later adopted in Nazi Germany. Aupindi argued in parliament that continuing to honour Galton through place-naming contradicts Namibia’s values and undermines the memory of African communities who suffered under colonial oppression.
In his parliamentary address, Aupindi noted that Galton’s racial theories contributed to systems of forced sterilisation, segregation, and dehumanisation. He further connected these ideologies to the atrocities committed during the Herero and Nama genocide between 1904 and 1908 in German South West Africa, the territory that would later become Namibia.
“Names inscribed on national monuments and entryways into our heritage sites must reflect Namibia’s identity and the legacy of our forebearers,” Aupindi stated. “Retaining Galton’s name fails to honour those who resisted oppression and instead preserves a narrative of racial superiority.”
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has clarified that while the proposed changes are widely supported, their implementation requires the passage of a forthcoming bill. Only once enacted will the renaming process be formalised, with an official inauguration to follow. According to ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, the revision of the gates’ names is not only a symbolic act but also part of a broader reconfiguration of national infrastructure to reflect post-colonial realities.
In addition to Galton Gate, the park’s other entrances are Andersson Gate in the south, Von Lindequist Gate in the east, and King Nehale Gate in the northeast. While King Nehale honours a historic Ndonga leader, the other names remain linked to European explorers and colonial figures. The forthcoming renaming process is therefore expected to revisit each of these titles, seeking a balance between historical accuracy, indigenous heritage, and inclusive national memory.
Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s most celebrated conservation areas, has long been a symbol of Namibia’s natural heritage and a key contributor to tourism. The renaming of its entry points thus represents not merely a bureaucratic exercise but an intervention in how public spaces narrate identity, memory, and belonging. Across Africa, similar debates continue to emerge as societies seek to reconcile colonial legacies with indigenous cultural and historical continuities, recognising that naming is not neutral but deeply political.
By undertaking this initiative, Namibia joins broader continental efforts to decolonise public memory, demonstrating how Pan-African narratives of dignity, sovereignty, and indigenous resilience are reshaping the symbolic landscapes of postcolonial nations.
