Durban

/ˈdɜrbən/ noun

Definition

A city on the east coast of South Africa known as a major port and beach destination.

Etymology

Named after Sir Benjamin D'Urban, a British governor of the Cape Colony in the 1830s, making it a rare example of a major world city named after an individual administrator.

Kelly Says

Durban's name is unusual among major cities—most are named after geography or ancient rulers, but this 'city of D'Urban' reveals how 19th-century colonialism literally put European officials' names on maps.

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