Nippes decides: Citizens rename controversial street new!

Nippes decides: Citizens rename controversial street new!

In Cologne-Nippes there is an exciting decision: The renaming of the Gustav Nachtigal-Straße, which was initiated in a fundamental decision by the city in November 2024, is now taking on concrete forms. From June 2025, the public will start a process of participation to decide together on a new name for the street. This measure follows the call for processing the colonial heritage, which has been promoted by the city since 2021. The renaming process was also initiated by the recommendation of the historical advisory board, which indicates the controversial role of Nachtigal as an imperial commissioner in West Africa and the associated experiences Rundschau] (https://www.ksta.de/koeln/nippes/nippes-veedel/strasse-in-nippes-buerger-koenne-neuen-mit-mit-vanven-103354) reports that the decision by the district representative Nippes, against the only vote of a representative of the AfD, was made.

Citizens can bring their suggestions by June 30, 2024, be it via postcards, leaflets or online via the "Opinion for Cologne" platform. The three current name proposals include Rudolf Duala Manga Bell, the former king of the Cameroonian duala people, civil rights activist Martin Dibobe and the former child soldier Mohamed Husen. In addition, further suggestions are expressly welcome. The evaluation of the citizen participation is planned for July and August 2025 before the final decision was made in September 2025 by the district council. Until then, all suggestions from the central name archive in the property office must be checked.

The legacy of the colonial period

When discussing the renaming, it becomes clear that there are many street names with a colonial cover in Germany. These names are often the legacy of colonialism that has left numerous traces in urban areas. The handling of it is controversial. Critics emphasize that it is time to critically deal with these names instead of leaving them unreflected. An example of this critical argument is the debate about the naming of streets in Berlin, where “colonial” street names have been discussed for over three decades. Initiatives are calling for a decolonization of the cities and new places of remembrance that address the colonial resistance and the late consequences of colonialism.

The decision to rename Gustav Nachtigal-Straße goes beyond the pure name change. It is part of a broader discussion about the culture of remembrance and the fair memory of the victims of colonial violence. Many people and civil society groups demand a critical examination of German colonial history, often combined with the demand for new monuments and culture of remembrance that do not forget the fight against colonial oppression.

The legacy of this argument is also visible in other cities. Cologne street names such as the Carl-Peters and Lüderitzstraße show how deeply colonialism is rooted in German city history. The discussion about renaming is part of a greater social change that flows into the formation of consciousness about colonial traces in urban rooms.