Africanization, as used in this article, refers to the modification of place names or personal names to better reflect an "African" identity. In some cases, changes are not strictly a change of name, but simply a transliteration different from the European name (e.g. Antananarivo).

Examples:

• Joseph-Désiré Mobutu changed to Mobutu Sese Seko
• François Tombalbaye changed to N'Garta Tombalbaye
• Étienne Eyadéma changed to Gnassingbé Eyadéma
• Francisco Macías Nguema changed to Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong
• David Jawara changed to Dawda Jawara
• Fernando Poo island changed to Bioko island
• Democratic Republic of the Congo changed to Zaïre
• Léopoldville changed to Kinshasa
• Salisbury changed to Harare
• Lourenço Marques changed to Maputo
• Dahomey changed to Benin (in this case, both names are from Africa)
• Bechuanaland changed to Botswana
• Gold Coast changed to Ghana
• Rhodesia changed to Zambia and Zimbabwe
• Nyasaland changed to Malawi
• Afars and Issas changed to Djibouti
• Fort Lamy changed to N'Djaména
• Tananarive changed to Antananarivo

Other name changes take place when an African person converts to another religion.

Examples:

• Albert-Bernard Bongo changed to Omar Bongo
• Jean-Bédel Bokassa changed to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa