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| Omokri and daughter |
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Some people reacted very angrily to my admonition that
African parents should give their children African names and teach them their
language no matter where they are born. Since it is said that examples are the
best form of advice, let me give you examples of how African children with
African names excel more than those with European names. In politics we have Barack Obama. In film we
have Chiwetel Ejiofor.
In Music we have Sade Adu
and AKON. In sports we have Nnamdi Asomugha.
In technology we have Chinedu Ocheruo. In international banking we have Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. In
literature we have Teju Cole
and Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie. These guys are at the TOP of their chosen field right here
in the West. If you can pronounce Schwarzenegger,
don't worry, they can pronounce whatever name you have.
Uche Egenti: Very well - my point is you could have made your point without referring to people's children as not polished and rubbished especially after cunningly making excuses for yours - very simple, not to fight!!
ReplyDeleteKaro Kanye Akamune: -Reno Omokri: I greet you! Our brother, Tony Okafor, made some thoughtful, progressive, practical and forward-looking points when he said, " I think people have the right to live their lives the way they choose to. The fact that they don't tow your line does not make them rubbish. Mental slavery goes beyond language. We go to school to learn foreign everything. We watch foreign everything, drive foreign everything, eat foreign everything, live in foreign land, dress in foreign everything. Please let's stop fooling ourselves. Tradition is what people do over time. Do u think tradition dont change? Please let's be human beings and not enslaved by traditions. Language is for communication. if we are so proud of our language why do we still have English as our lingua franca?"
ReplyDeleteYes - we are not "foreign everything" but...
Reno, my friend, to say that our children who do not speak the native tongue(s) of their parents are 'rubbished' is not correct. Languages come; languages go. What is most important is that as humans, we learn how to communicate effectively. Our main priority is to expand our horizon and be greater versions of ourselves through proper and effective communication. It matters less, what language we learn and speak. Any language that would do the job is welcomed - and this boils down to "location" and "primary circle of influence, education, trade & commerce, religion, etc". Thanks for your continued contributions to humanity's upward climb. #Unity #Faith #Peace #Progress #OneLove