\u2026what people mean when they say I have a beautiful name.
\nI\u2019ve heard it, said it, spelt it, read it and mispronounced it
\nso many times, I have taken it entirely for granted.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mostly though, I wonder
\nhow one can claim to find the beauty in a name
\nthey know neither meaning nor pronunciation of.
\nDoes one just find it beautifully written?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Y\u00e9t\u00fand\u00e9<\/p>\n
Short for Y\u00e8y\u00e9t\u00fand\u00e9, mother has returned<\/em>, As opposed to a father, grandfather, great-grandfather: Or a child or loved one that was previously lost: <\/p>\n As a child, I wondered why you would ever Later on, I thought it was probably nice Now I think Y\u00e9t\u00fand\u00e9 it is a touching name. <\/p>\n I do have a name that I consider beautiful.<\/p>\n Backtrack. Backtrack. Also, Nigerians are named in full, storytelling, <\/p>\n My sister: Ol\u00fawa\u1e63<\/span>eun, (We) thank God<\/em>, My brother: Ol\u00fawad\u00e1mil\u00e1re, God has vindicated me<\/em>, <\/p>\n I assume that firstborn children receive the most names, <\/p>\n My second name, which is already too long I consider myself a good child. <\/p>\n My third name, I can tell you that I have had Or\u00edk\u00ec <\/p>\n I personally think my beautiful name is <\/p>\n So I\u2019m a reincarnated, joy-bringing beaut to be pampered by all.<\/p>\n I\u2019m feeling quite good about myself <\/p>\n
\nin the Yor\u00f9b\u00e1 language.
\nMeaning that a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother
\ndied and came back as a new-born.
\nReincarnated.
\nIn my case, beloved great-grandma, mother of my maternal grandpa.<\/p>\n
\nBab\u00e1t\u00fand\u00e9, father has returned<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAy\u1ecd\u0300<\/span>t\u00fand\u00e9, joy has returned<\/em><\/p>\n
\ngive anyone the burden of such a name. It felt heavy.
\nLike I had to live up to someone.<\/p>\n
\nto be named after someone who was so loved
\nthat she is still fondly spoken of.
\nIt could have been worse.<\/p>\n
\nBut beautiful?<\/p>\n
\nI have several names, I consider one of them beautiful.<\/p>\n
\nNigerians are named in grand ceremonies,
\n7 or 8 days after birth, where
\nanyone present and willing can give a child a name
\nreflecting what the child means to them.<\/p>\n
\ngrammatically complete sentences.<\/p>\n
\nthe first words uttered by my mother
\nafter a long and difficult birth.<\/p>\n
\nwhen his paternal origin was questioned
\nup until his birth.
\n(insert scandal here, end with \u2018Dad left\u2019, erase scandal)<\/p>\n
\nwhile the enthusiasm is still great.
\nAlso, babies who leave their parents waiting on God
\nor exploring science.
\nI got four names. Nothing wild, I guess.<\/p>\n
\nto fit into my passport,
\nOl\u00fawaf\u00fanmilay\u1ecd\u0300<\/span>, means God has given me joy<\/em>
\nand is probably my most embodied name.<\/p>\n
\nConsciously and subconsciously, I have tried
\nnot to bring my loved ones sorrow. By default,
\nI assume that I have brought them some level or form of joy.
\nLet\u2019s not ask anyone for confirmation though.<\/p>\n
\n\u00c0j\u1ecd<\/span>k\u1eb9\u0301<\/span>, means born to be pampered by all<\/em>.
\nI\u2019m not complaining.
\nThis is my eulogy name, for singing me
\nOr\u00edk\u00ec, praise poetry,<\/a>
\nto the accompaniment of a talking drum.<\/p>\n
\nsung of me. If this doesn\u2019t make you
\nfeel like a warrior, nothing else will.
\nHere\u2019s an example of a christian Or\u00edk\u00ec<\/a><\/p>\n
\nZainat
\nYor\u00f9b\u00e1 form: S\u00edn\u00e1t\u00f9
\nwhich coincidentally means
\nbeauty or adornment<\/em> in Arabic and
\nwas given to me by my paternal grandfather.<\/p>\n
\nright about now, this would be a good place
\nto end my musings. But
\nas with many things Nigerian,
\nthere is often a side story.<\/p>\n