Comic actor Bayo Bankole, popularly known as Boy Alinco, has emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage through names.
Speaking on the Teju Babyface Podcast, he urged parents to give their children traditional names instead of foreign ones.
Bankole highlighted the beauty of Yoruba names like Oluwaseun, Oluwapamilerinayo, and Oluwasoromidayo, discouraging the preference for foreign names such as Jayden or Biden.
He warned that abandoning traditional names could lead to a loss of cultural identity.
Addressing concerns about pronunciation, he countered the argument that African names are difficult for non-Africans to say, noting that schools and institutions manage to pronounce Dutch, Russian, and Indian names without issue.
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He also pointed out the struggles African Americans face in tracing their roots, contrasting this with the strong cultural ties maintained by Indians and Jews through their names.
Expressing his deep commitment to cultural preservation, Bankole stated that even in death, he hopes his legacy will inspire future generations to embrace their heritage.
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 sound 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 link 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.”
