1. Name Myth
As I was growing up, I realized how our Kikuyu culture could mess someone. If you are from
Kenya, and you originate from the roots of Mumbi and Gikuyu, you will comprehend what I am
about to lament. My mother named me after my father’s mother (grandmother) since that is the
norm- the first son and daughter are named to the father’s side and alternate depending on the
number of children one conceives. The wise Kenyan men said ‘mwacha mila ni mtumwa,’ but
am almost exiting from my culture (the naming). When I was growing up I got to stay with my
grandmother (may her soul RIP), I did not meet her set requirements- yap she was strict- being
raised among four men, I was a piece of work. Hence, she despised me and would always say ‘
wewe hata sijui uliitwa jina langu mbna? Walikosea sababu hata huna tabia zangu,’ (I do not
know why they named you after me, they made a mistake because you don’t even have my
characters). That is where my hatred for the naming ritual passed over to generations developed.
How is a child expected to act as his or her elders? My mother is named Wambui, and since she
had to adhere to her Kikuyu culture, I had to be identified as Wambui, and then it is expected of
me to name my daughter after her (Wambui), NO.
I had an argument with a person I love concerning the naming belief. He insists on naming our
‘children’ after his parents, and I cannot submit to that. It is more logic to name a child the
neutral name. When I delivered my firstborn child, I knew I never wanted him to have any
Kikuyu name, for one, it is tribal, two- if I disliked my father, I would end up hating my child,
and if I adored him, I might favour him over his brothers and sisters. I want my child to have the
freedom to choose his destiny, not to be told every instant when he visits his extended family,
‘uko na tabia kaa za Babu yako au, huyu hakai kaa Babu yake.’
During the naming of my child, I gave him a Christian and a Muslim name (Godian Maleek).
You know why? To make sure he fits anywhere his life sails him. I want him to be in charge of
his destiny. I don’t want him to be favoured because of his religion, I want him to be chosen
because of his success. Not long ago, we experienced PEV (Post Election Violence) people were
being discriminated because of their ID names. Wambui’s and Njoroge’s were discriminated in
Kisumu while Otieno’s and Anyang’o were victims in Nyeri. I don’t want my child to be a
victim because of his or her name when I could have chosen a better path for him. With no tribal
name, he can stand tall and claim to be a Kenyan and not be branded Kikuyu or Dholuo.
Unless we take the initiative and look for better ways to eliminate tribalism, our names will
always determine our destiny, i.e. where we buy lands, who we marry, where we get employed
to an extent of who will be our customers. We must get rid of tribalism from the grassroots
before we aim at the leadership of this country. I love my culture, but I hate how am treated
because of my name. I want to walk shoulders high without having to worry if I date a Luo; my
in-laws will say ‘Huyo ni mkikuyu? Amekuja tu kukula mali ya shemeji yetu.’ Or, venturing
into business, only to receive comments like ‘Wakikuyu ni wezi na wanapenda pesa sana.’ The
issue of Kikuyu’s earnest money always make me wonder, have you ever seen a person who
does have a passion for money?
In conclusion, we can make a difference in our children naming rituals. We should not subject
our children to our cultures that might complicate their lives. Let us be future-oriented, open
minded, and evolved. Ni hayo tu kwa sasa.