My New Last Name

During the survey month of February, two of our village contacts in town for training discussed my African name. My first name - Khadiza - is a good name, but they concluded I needed a last name as well to complete my African name.

After debating for a few minutes, I was presented with a choice of two last names - each being the family name of the two debating. Adamou and Mamane are both elders in their villages and highly respected men within the village cooperative of Walde Potal (with whom my team works to bring development aid). Though honored that both were wanting to grant me use of their family name to complete my "African-ness", I was left with a dilemma.

How do I choose a name without offending either of the donors??

As I glanced at both of them and repeated the names offered, I gather they sensed my dilemma and one of them spoke up to solve them problem.

'You will have my family name', Adamou proclaimed.

Thus, my full and new African name is:

Khadiza Djallo

I have heard many stories of missionaries who received a last name, and the ensuing teasing rivalry between family groupings. I should not have been surprised that announcing my full name now results in one of the two exclamations:

• oh, that is a good family name, you belong to my larger family group
• oh, not that name, that family is 'insert teasing insult here'; you should have "x" name

It would appear that my acceptance into the Fulani society is growing larger - though, it has been mentioned that to be truly Fulani, I need to wear the traditional Fulani outfit. One of these days I will need to have one made and give it a go - pictures to follow!

hmmmm . . . I should probably learn to pound millet as well.