Last week Stats SA published their report on baby names in South Africa. Across the country Dlamini was the most common surname, with Nkosi and Ndlovu the second and third most common surnames. According to the report the most popular names for baby girls in 2017 were Enzokuhle (“Do good” in isiZulu), Melokuhle (“Stand up for … Read more
This past weekend saw the annual Lourie awards take place in Durban, with South Africa’s much-loved fast food brand, Nandos, winning the Grand Prix award for their #rightmyname campaign. With the payoff line, “Your name is not a mistake”, advertising agency M&C Saatchi Abel brought attention to the fact that the technology we use everyday … Read more
Jabulani Means Rejoice is the most wonderful dictionary of South African names! Written by Phumzile Kalumba, the book looks at the history of African names, offering a meaning for each name, as well as the origin of the name. But it goes beyond being merely a dictionary, providing a cultural context and examining the history surrounding things such … Read more
It’s the start of a new year, and for some new and exciting beginnings. Every year radio and television stations across the world report on all the babies born at the stroke of midnight. In most cultures the birth of a child is celebrated, although some societies place particular importance on the sex of the … Read more