Hello girls, gays and theys
I hope 2025 started well for you. As for me, I woke up on January 1st saying to myself “Nobody is going to drive me crazy this year” and at 7pm I was already in another family heated argument, screaming in the house and all. It’s alright every morning is an opportunity for another attempt (See how this book on self-compassion that I’ve read is being helpful?). I really want to learn not to be too reactive anymore, but it’s not in my core programming so obviously, it will take some time.
Today, You will hear my voice for the first time as I’m coming to you with the story of my name. I recorded that audio back in September so all the promise of consistency I’m making in it, just know it’s a lie. You will get videos/audios when you get them. Even me I don’t have a plan for this newsletter you know it’s random AF, I go with the flow, I follow the spirit. Plus, I don’t think I will publish the version in French
Today’s topic is my Indigenous Bété name, the origin, the story behind it everything. Around 2018 I wrote an essay titled “ A wise child chooses her name when she is old enough” (wonderful title I know). It was around that time that I started thinking of starting using that name instead of my Christian name. In that essay, I wrote about how learning about African and Hindu divinities taught me one can have many names, at different stages of their life, given by different people and meaning different things for them and others. It was a good essay but I’ve never published it anywhere, I don’t even know where I put it. It’s probably in my old faulty external hard drive, if I find it again, I might publish it here. In the meantime, enjoy the funny story of how I was named and how I’ve been told all my life that name meant something; but the meaning I was given was not the real meaning, which I found later in life.
If after listening to my story you are curious to hear what the Bété language sounds like, listen to this song, my favorite of the moment.
Enjoy the culture!
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