Bayo Bankole, the Nigerian comic actor, who is popularly known as Boy Alinco has shared his position on the importance of preserving cultural heritage through names.
During an interview on the Teju Babyface podcast, he reiterated the significance of giving children traditional names, citing beautiful Yoruba names like Oluwaseun, Oluwapamilerinayo, and Oluwasoromidayo.
Bankole kicked giving children foreign names like Jayden or Biden, stating that it can lead to a loss of cultural identity.
He said: “It’s because they changed their name, and that’s why I always encourage here that we don’t give our children, Jayden, Biden, all that stuff when we have beautiful names like Oluwaseun, Oluwapamilerinayo, Oluwasoromidayo.
“Look, some will say they won’t be able to call their names in schools, but it’s a lie. They call Dutch names, they call Russian names that even sounds awkward.
“They call long Indian names, the Indians will not change their names, but we, especially we Yorubas, the Igbos are still even good.
“And that’s why it’s difficult for an African American to trace their roots back to Africa. The Indians know where they’re from.
“Patel is a community in India, it’s a name here, it’s a brand name here in America. You see different names, family names, the Jews keep their names, it’s their names that links them back to their roots.
“So for me if my corpse is what will bring my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren back home, I think it’s going to be to the glory of Eledumare.”
