Africanise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To give a country, institution or business an African character by transferring control or staffing to Africans in place of foreign or colonial figures
2. To make an organization, workforce or culture predominantly African, often by replacing non-African people or influences with local ones
3. Bringing a place, enterprise or practice under African character and leadership, especially in the period of decolonization across the continent

Etymology: "Africanise" is built directly from "African" with the verb-forming suffix "-ise," meaning to make something African in character, to bring it under African control, or to place African people in posts once held by others. The base word "African" is itself a long-established English adjective and noun, so the verb is a straightforward formation from it. The suffix "-ise" comes from Greek "-izein," which Latin adopted as "-izare" and which entered English through French. Attached to a noun or adjective, it creates a verb meaning to make or to render in a certain way, as in "modernise" or "industrialise."

Synonyms: Africanize, indigenize, localize