It might be hilarious that Karyns are being stereotyped as ill-tempered scolding women – shrews in a single term – but name-shaming becomes disrespectful in the long run (Weekend Post, 1 May 2021).
This issue reminds me of the R&B singer Karyn White who has hit songs like Make Him Do Right , I’d Rather Be Alone (than be unhappy), Can I Stay With You, (I’m not your) Super Woman and Hungah. Erstwhile Metro FM DJ, Isaac Phaahla, opined that she is always complaining or demanding in her lyrics.
In my case, I used the Marlon middle name throughout my secondary school years, as I couldn’t take the deliberate mis-pronunciation of my first name, Luyanda. Some said it sounds too feminine.
My surname was also a joke in Afrikaans-medium schools I attended: acquaintances joked that I’m kamma Black (feigned /acted like /fake in Afrikaans slang instead of the official ‘kastig’) and some school mates summarised their bumptiousness as “You don’t look like ‘an African’ at all.”
Luyanda Marlon Kama
Kwa-Dwesi
Port Elizabeth
