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Is the greening of Victoria Falls for St Patrick`s Day appropriate?

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Comments

  • #62
    looksee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 31,708 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    Vita nova wrote: »
    Yes, but both Zimbabwe and Zambia seem to use Victoria Falls in English, for example, that's the term used by their tourist authorities.

    It's not for me that I wish they'd change the name but for themselves, however, it is entirely their decision. After all, they changed their countries' names from Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia -named after arch colonialist Cecil Rhodes- to Zimbabwe and Zambia.

    50 years ago it was called Mosi oa Tunya and pretty much anyone who lived in Zambia knew this was its name - in quite a lot of cases because it was the name by which it was known -the smoke that thunders.

    However if you are a marketing authority and you are trying to get European and American tourists to come and visit you are more likely to use the name they recognise and hope they will pick up on the local name when they arrive.

    The Irish tourist board doesn't call the Cliffs of Moher Aillte an Mhothair for much the same reason.


  • #63
    Vita nova
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 789 ✭✭✭Vita nova


    looksee wrote: »
    50 years ago it was called Mosi oa Tunya and pretty much anyone who lived in Zambia knew this was its name - in quite a lot of cases because it was the name by which it was known -the smoke that thunders.

    However if you are a marketing authority and you are trying to get European and American tourists to come and visit you are more likely to use the name they recognise and hope they will pick up on the local name when they arrive.

    The Irish tourist board doesn't call the Cliffs of Moher Aillte an Mhothair for much the same reason.
    I think if the British had named them the Victoria Cliffs then we would have changed the name by now. Mosi oa Tunya or Thundering Smoke or some such should be the official names and Victoria Falls consigned to the dustbin of history.


  • #64
    mzungu
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,311 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    archer22 wrote: »
    They are also hiring local theatre groups to dress up in green at those places and hop and prance around the place.
    Then there will be an interview with some them where they will say how much they love Irish culture.

    And shur why wouldn't they with a wad of Euros in their fists heading home :D

    PS the getting drunk puking and fighting part of St Patrick's day won't be included.

    Don't be so sure. Zambian bars/shebeens can get pretty rowdy at times. Per capita, they are the biggest drinkers in the region, and their competition would be fairly stiff.


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