Berlin renames controversial street after African philosopher

Saturday 23 August 2025 - 15:35

By: Sahili Aya

Berlin renames controversial street after African philosopher

After decades of debate, Berlin has officially renamed its central “Mohrenstrasse” (“Street of the Moors”) to honor Anton Wilhelm Amo, an 18th-century African philosopher and jurist who became a prominent academic in Germany.

On August 23, workers installed the new street signs reading “Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse” in the Mitte district. The subway station previously known as Mohrenstrasse has also adopted the new name.

Local authorities explained that Amo, originally from present-day Ghana, was enslaved as a child and brought to Europe, where he later studied and taught philosophy at the universities of Wittenberg, Halle, and Jena. He is recognized as the first Black philosopher to teach in German universities.

The decision follows long-standing criticism from activists and community groups who considered the old name discriminatory. The organization Decolonize Berlin, which has campaigned for more than 30 years for the renaming, described the change as a “major victory.”

“The term ‘Moor’ is racist. What matters is the impact of such names, not whether racism was intended,” explained Tahir Della, a spokesperson for the group.

Although local authorities had already voted in favor of the change in 2020, some residents challenged the decision in court. Earlier this summer, the Berlin administrative court confirmed that the renaming was valid, clearing the final legal obstacle.

For supporters, the new name symbolizes resilience, knowledge, and the cultural heritage of the African diaspora in Germany.