I came across this phrase recently in my search for a better name for the region we used to call ‘The Middle East’, which is Eurocentric and colonial. What is it middle-east of, after all? It places the region in relation to Europe. I’d heard Eurasia, The Arab World, Central Asia, but none of them fully fit the bill for me. Enter SWANA.

S.W.A.N.A. is a decolonial word for the South West Asian/ North African (S.W.A.N.A.) region in place of Middle Eastern, Near Eastern, Arab World or Islamic World that have colonial, Eurocentric, and Orientalist origins and are created to conflate, contain and dehumanize our people. We use SWANA to speak to the diversity of our communities and to forward the most vulnerable in our liberation. [Source: The SWANA Alliance]

SWANA aims to provide a more inclusive and accurate representation of the countries and cultures that make up this diverse region.

Using the term SWANA acknowledges that the region encompasses countries from both Southwest Asia and North Africa, which share many cultural, linguistic, and historical ties. This term is more inclusive because it recognizes the diversity of the region, which includes countries with different religions, ethnicities, and political systems. By using the term SWANA, we can better understand and appreciate the diversity of the region and its people.

Moreover, using the term SWANA helps to decolonize our language and thinking. The term ‘Middle East’ is rooted in European imperialism and reflects a Eurocentric worldview. Using SWANA challenges this colonial legacy and recognizes the agency and autonomy of the countries and cultures in the region.