Embrace Your African Identity, Drop European And Arabic Names | Femi Soewu

It is time for Africans to embrace their African names and and their rich heritage. When we call ourselves or someone else by a name, we’re acknowledging their history and, in many cases, the story of where they come from. Names carry meaning, often specific meanings that can relate to family history, significant events, or even spiritual beliefs. Names are more than just labels; they are the first reflection of our identity to the world. A name carries with it history, culture, time, and place. It’s a bridge that connects us to our roots, our ancestors, and our heritage.


For many Africans, that connection has been severed, disrupted, or altered due to centuries of colonialism, the transatlantic and trans-Saharan slave trades, and cultural erasure. many African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Africans in the diaspora still bear European names, names that were not chosen by their ancestors but imposed upon them as part of a process to dehumanise and dominate.


For Africans who were enslaved, names were tools of control—tools that erased their original identity. Enslaved Africans could no longer trace their ancestors to a specific African region or community. This has created a generation of Africans in the diaspora who struggle with an identity crisis, disconnected from the cultural histories of their African forebears.


The episode of the African Narratives Podcast was presented by Femi Soewu, the creative director of Africa Web TV. Apologies for the sound quality in some segments


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