It’s 2024, Drop Those English Names. Your Native Names are ENOUGH

[@Bykes1]

Super relevant topic👍. Your point on people in the US pronouncing even "harder" names of other nationalities is soo accurate. Like I've always found it funny when in school, I see people learn to pronounce Indian or European student/ professor names that appear to be similarly or more complex than ours - but apparently struggle so much with shorter African names. Even funnier is when people easily learn to pronounce your "tough" name if you are famous, rich or just important (Giannis Antetokounmpo is a great example). IMO (and I could be wrong) I think its just cos for some reason, Nigerians have a habit of providing an easy way out for people - by providing their English name pre-emptively or at the slightest observation of them struggling to pronounce their native name. I personally think that if you decide not to give that option, then people are forced to learn your name and even appreciate it. Well, that's what I've been doing and I feel it has been working superbly. I think it would be really difficult to maintain our cultural pride if we lose the identity of our names, which could have several harmful effects in the long run just as you said.

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Absolutely. Someone legit asked me right off the bat “what’s your English name?” after I told him my name. This person was Nigerian too. It was so weird.

[@Bykes1]

@@ChilotamOjukwu I agree. That’s weird coming from a Nigerian unless maybe the person wasn’t raised in Nigeria?

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

@@Bykes1 He was a fellow international student from Nigeria.

[@Bykes1]

@@ChilotamOjukwuWell that’s surprising. If payback is your thing, just find out his native name and only call him by that forever

[@ukamakaokechi13]

Even when my parents hear some people’s surnames and names they already know this person is from Enugu or IMO or Abia. It’s really beautiful.

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Wow that’s beautiful.

[@dearomonso]

As I grow older I fall more inlove with my native name. Whenever someone ask I will say "Omonso" with joy and the eagerness to tell them what it means.

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Same!!

[@AbigailNduba]

Well to me i just feel like people use names they're more comfortable with. Like me i grew up with people calling me Abigail right down till my school days and i became so comfortable with it. My native name is ijeoma and it's only those thst are close to me that call me that. But it still doesn't stop me from telling people my native name. I will proudly and gladly tell anyone my native name anywhere in the world. So everyone should fo what they feel is best for them

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

I understand, but I genuinely don’t see the need to give kids English names in the first place because our native names are enough.

[@Bossuhzi]

That “Na me Dey use am” part got me 😂😂😂

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Lol had to be said.

[@maureenjoseph413]

I remember a part in Purple Hibiscus, where Amaka refused to be confirmed or do her confirmation if it meant she only had to choose an english name. I did not quite why she was making a fuss then but recently i get , our native names exalt God too, so why do i have to choose an english name to show that i accept God? I enjoyed the video

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

That’s a wonderful point right there.

[@FortuneDaniel]

Every Nigerian names have a meaning. It's fascinating to think about😊😊

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Absolutely!

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe🫶🏾.

[@xzalomon]

well done chilotam 👍 literally took me back to the classroom😅 remember when we debated this topic in relation to Africanism back in uni. I think globalisation, other than the religio-political origins/influences of this naming culture, is start to exert a much stronger influence on people who still retain/ give their kids English names or even Arabic names in the case of Muslims. It's not just Jewish/English names anymore, we now have Spanish, German, french ( p.s rememberd a bbn hm who wanted to name their kid Gucci 😂) even south african names - heard of a nigerian kid named "Jabulani"; even within Nigeria I have seen a family with non-Yoruba ancestry name their son Abiola😅...The world is "global village village", that's what say after all. like you said cultures are erasing; they are also eroding/blending into one another. The paradox this is happening at a time when nationalist sentiment are beginning to hit a new highs across nations, due to socio-economic factors. crazy times! I'm not even gonna lie😂, I so much love the way the Igbo "Kamsiyochukwu" and Yoruba "finyinfoluwa" sounds that I'm getting interesting ideas😅 even if I don't end up marrying someone from either ethnic groups .

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Good points here. I love “Feyi” as a name lol😂.

[@justinjimawo]

Valid points made. As a Nigerian, your native name is your identity. It tells where you are from. I would like to however mention that it is still perfectly okay to go by an “English” first name, as they also have meaning. My first name is Justin, and I love the name as much as I love my native name; Ikpemosimhe. I think where I have issues with people is when they start changing their surnames. Your family name is Chukwuemeka for example, but you changed it to “Jaden” so that it would sound cool 😂😂 your name then becomes “Joseph Jaden”, like say you be white man😆 At least have a name that identifies your cultural background.The point I’m trying to make is, inasmuch as I agree with you on the need to fully identify with our cultural names, there is nothing wrong with having a non Nigerian name and bearing it too! They equally have meanings…Let’s stop sounding as if you will not go to heaven because your name is Stephen and not “Oluwagbemisola”😂😂😂

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

I don’t see the need for an English name as a Nigerian if you’re not an English person or if one of your parents isn’t foreign (English speaking) tbh. We already speak English, we’ve assimilated enough. There needs to be room for our own identities in the country. I made the video because I know some people place more value on their English names than they do their native names. I never insinuated that it is a do or die situation throughout this video either, but if the shoe fits, then wear it🫶🏾.

[@benjaminngopwaamos6878]

This also applies to Muslims as well. Go up north and you'll hardly see Northern Muslims bearing native names. They mostly bear Arabic names.

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

That’s another part I didn’t think about lol. Really interesting to know.

[@benjaminngopwaamos6878]

I served in a private firm in Lagos, and we were forced to use our native names. Nigerians gave me headache with my own name. For a whole year, people were mispronouncing my name. Some weren't even willing to call me by my native name. Others were mistaking me for an Igbo dude even though I'm from Adamawa state. My name in particular is NGOPWA. How does that name even sound or look Igbo? Also, most of these foreign names we have aren't English. Most are Hebrew, while others have Gaelic, Germanic and Roman/Greek roots. I've come to realize that I actually put in significantly more effort than the average Nigerian in learning other people's native names (especially the more difficult ones) because of how people struggle to pronounce my native name.

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

That’s really interesting! A lot of people also think Nigeria is made up of only 3 tribes, which is ridiculous.

[@benjaminngopwaamos6878]

@@ChilotamOjukwu Our educational system has failed us. People don't know that a huge chunk of the ethnic groups in Nigeria come from the Northern region of the country. I'm always infuriated when people call me Hausa after finding out I'm from the Northeastern part of the country,

[@virginuscharles9199]

"na me de use am" 😂

[@Leylahfernandez1989]

Changing your name on this channel was one of the coolest things you've ever done. Your English name fits more with our grandmothers' generation. Is that who named you? 🙃

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Thank you. My parents named me😊.

[@DesireAgbara-cv5nh]

Funny I don't have an English name, P.S I'm commenting with my brother's account My name is Henny Ezinne Agbara

[@jaobillionaire]

I have two igbo names and no English names.

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

That’s awesome!

[@AbigailNduba]

Jaden is actually a biblically name Still the same meaning as jadon

[@ChilotamOjukwu]

Still sick of it tbh, but the entire video covers that point (towards the end).

[@AbigailNduba]

😂😂😂