Street renaming in Bamako provides an opportunity to eliminate negative colonial remnants and reshape historical narratives, Malian analyst Abdoul Diallo told Sputnik Africa.
"Our streets should bear the names of brave individuals who remind us of who we are, where we come from, and who further acquaint us with our own identity," he said.
The analyst proposed that streets could be renamed to honor notable figures from the time of the empires, such as Sundiata Keita, the prince who founded the Mali Empire, and Soumaoro Kante, the ruler of the Kaniaga state of the Susu people.
Inspired by Niger, this initiative, which is "to be applauded and supported," represents a "very important factor for strengthening our Malian sovereignty," Diallo continued.
"[It is necessary] to remind young generations of the brave and dignified men and women who served Mali with dignity and honor," he concluded.