Inspiration behind the names<\/p>\n
So why are first names with very specific meanings in the English language such a common phenomenon in Zimbabwe? To understand this, we must first understand the country\u2019s demography, ethnic and local language landscape.<\/p>\n
The country is made up of multiple ethnic groups, with the Shona ethnic group making up about 80 per cent of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people.<\/p>\n
\u00a0The Ndebele makes up about 14 per cent of the population.<\/p>\n
As a former British colony, Zimbabwe has English as its official language, alongside Shona and Ndebele.<\/p>\n
Culturally, the Shona and Ndebele people like to assign names to children based on specific events around a child\u2019s birth. These names can be inspired by varied events like personal triumph or tragedy, lived experiences of regret or defiance and personal heroes.<\/p>\n
In some cases, the names are meant to serve as a reminder, warning, criticism. Some take the form of rhetoric questions, like\u00a0\u201cWhoknows\u201d for example. A Shona family that was recently bereaved may name a newborn Monyaradzi to mean ‘one who comforts’ or ‘Comforter’ in English. Chikonzero, also a\u00a0Shona name, means ‘Risen’, while Chiedza means ‘Shine’.<\/p>\n
It is the same philosophy that Zimbabweans try to apply to their names in English.<\/p>\n