Names of public memory spaces as sites of coloniality, cultural erasure, and downscaling in linguistic landscapes of Northern Zambia

Abstract

This article problematises the names of two spaces of public memory in northern Zambia (South-Central Africa), the Moto Moto Museum and the Kalambo Falls Heritage Site, to illustrate the unequal power dynamics in place. It argues that both names are rooted in coloniality, perpetuating the erasure and downscaling of local historical voices and narratives. Moto Moto upscales the legacy of White religious figures while erasing the contribution of indigenous actors. Similarly, Kalambo reflects colonial control through the normalisation of mispronounced African words, stripping them of their original meaning and diminishing local cultural heritage. The article concludes with an exploration of how names of spaces of public memory in the linguistic landscape may carry a colonial heritage that surreptitiously reinforces the dominance of colonial narratives while diminishing local historical narratives and voices, resulting in the distortion of history and the sentiments of local people. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.