# Why do so many African leaders have english/western first names? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546 "2015-10-23T15:31:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/1 "2015-10-23T15:31:17Z")
From [wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_state_leaders_in_2015): Benin: Lionel Zinsou Botswana: Ian Khama Burkina Faso: Michel Kafando, Gilbert Diendere, Michel Kafando Burundi: Pierre Nkurunziza Cameroon: Paul Biya Central African Republic: Catherine Samba-Panza Chad: Idriss Deby Congo B: Denis Sassou Nguesso Congo K: Joseph Kabila, Augustin Matata Ponyo Cote d’Ivoire: Daniel Kablan Duncan Gabon: Daniel Ona Ondo Ghana: John Dramani Mahama Lesotho: Tom Thabane Liberia: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Madagascar: Roger Kolo, Jean Ravelonarivo Malawi: Peter Mutharika Mauritius: Monique Ohsan-Bellepeau, Daniel Zaidani Mozambique: Filipe Nyusi, Alberto Vaquina Nigeria: Goodluck Jonathan (wtf?) Rwanda: Paul Kagame Sao Tome: Patrice Trovoada Senegal: Macky Sall Seychelles: James Michel Sierra Leone: Ernest Bai Koroma South Africa: Jacob Zuma Zambia: Edgar Lungu Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe My first thought was, of course they have english sounding names, Europe conquered much of Africa so they have that tradition going for them. But if that’s the sole reason, why continue using the names of your oppressors? And why do most of these guys have very native African-sounding last names? You’d think they’d all have names like Nyuogo Lupita, not Kate Lupita. Or maybe western sounding names are some kind of status symbol there, distinguishing you from the rest of the people in your hometown. And most of these are guys, so its not like their maiden name was John Johnson and married someone with the last name Mahama. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/2 "2015-10-23T15:35:51Z")
Possibly Western, and frequently church, influence over schools, giving status to Western names? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/3 "2015-10-23T16:06:48Z")
Christian church naming habits. you list by the way sub-saharan countries. Africa is not only sub saharan. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/4 "2015-10-23T16:11:49Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > Christian church naming habits. > > you list by the way sub-saharan countries. Africa is not only sub saharan. I just pulled the whole Africa list from wiki. It seems a lot of other countries, possibly the ones I omitted, have different naming conventions. I did notice a lot of Muslim names but I figured its because the countries were Islamic, which makes more sense than having a bunch of western names ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/5 "2015-10-23T16:23:31Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Senegal: Macky Sall Since a Christian background for some of these first names is assumed, I have to check my Bible where Macky is mentioned. Could be one of the lesser known prophets. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/6 "2015-10-23T16:38:42Z")
In India, western-style names are called “Christian names,” whether or not they have any actual origin in the Bible or in the Christian religion, and it is expected that anyone converting to or adhering to Christianity will take on or be given such a name. Perhaps the same is true in many African countries. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/7 "2015-10-23T16:39:28Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I did notice a lot of Muslim names but I figured its because the countries were Islamic, which makes more sense than having a bunch of western names Idriss (on your list) is a Muslim name. ETA: Though the Islamic prophet [Idris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_%28prophet%29) is usually spelled with one I. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/8 "2015-10-23T16:40:25Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I did notice a lot of Muslim names but I figured its because the countries were Islamic, which makes more sense than having a bunch of western names I think there you have it. These are mainly not “western names,” they are Christian names. People in Africa commonly get their (official) first names based on their religions, whether Christianity or Islam. Christians will usually be given a saint’s name when they are baptized, and that’s the name that will also be on the birth certificate. People may also have traditional names based on their ethnicity or tribal affiliation by which they are know to family and friends, but will use their baptismal names for official business. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/9 "2015-10-23T16:44:23Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > Since a Christian background for some of these first names is assumed, I have to check my Bible where Macky is mentioned. Could be one of the lesser known prophets. His parents are/were named Coumba and Amadou. Not seeing a Christian naming influence here. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/10 "2015-10-23T16:46:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > His parents are/were named Coumba and Amadou. Not seeing a Christian naming influence here. Amadou is actually an Islamic name, a version of Ahmad. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/11 "2015-10-23T16:47:09Z")
…anyway, to address the subject, my Kenyan friend is named **Milton** , after [Milton Obote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Obote). And there’s your answer: those names were _originally_ western, but they were adopted by the locals back in colonial times, and the modern people bearing them are most likely named after relatives and friends and local celebrities. So they _are_ African names, just of more recent origin than what you think of as native African names. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/12 "2015-10-23T17:00:50Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Nigeria: Goodluck Jonathan (wtf?) [What’s up with Goodluck Jonathan’s name?](http://www.ibtimes.com/whats-goodluck-jonathans-name-280475) > [@](#): > > Jonathan is easy enough to answer. He, being a Christian Ijaw from the Bayelsa State, is likely the descendant of a man who was proselytized and colonized by Christian Europeans in the 19th century and then took on the Christian name of Jonathan. > > Jonathan, which was probably the man’s first name, later became the family name of his descendants. > > … > > The name of Goodluck is meant to simply convey “good luck,” or good fortune. When asked why President Jonathan received such a name, his father said: “I instinctively realized that this child has that element of fortune. I just said to myself, 'this boy is lucky.’ So I decided to call him Goodluck,” according to Time. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/13 "2015-10-23T17:05:14Z")
In South Africa, at least, black people - especially those of the older generations - often have two names, one in their mother tongue and another in English (or Afrikaans). In some cases the English name was imposed on them; famously Rolihlahla Mandela was given the name “Nelson” by his primary school teacher. As he describes it in his autobiograpy: > [@](#): > > On the first day of school my teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave each of us an English name. This was the custom among Africans in those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our education. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why this particular name I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/14 "2015-10-23T17:07:35Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Idriss (on your list) is a Muslim name. > > ETA: Though the Islamic prophet [Idris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_%28prophet%29) is usually spelled with one I. Ooops, I was thinking Idris Elba, English actor ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/15 "2015-10-23T18:31:12Z")
Part of it is that in countries that contain lots of different ethnic or tribal groups that may not be particularly fond of each other, it can be politically convenient for someone involved in politics at the national level to use a western name instead of their traditional name which links them to their particular ethnic background. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/16 "2015-10-23T18:49:52Z")
Probably a majority of people whose families have been in the US for significant amount of time use first names of English origin, regardless of the families original ethnicity, whether Italian, German, Russian, or Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/17 "2015-10-23T19:58:59Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > In India, western-style names are called “Christian names,” whether or not they have any actual origin in the Bible or in the Christian religion, … Perhaps the same is true in many African countries. Yes. > [@Colibri](#): > > Amadou is actually an Islamic name, a version of Ahmad. Yes. > [@GreasyJack](#): > > Part of it is that in countries that contain lots of different ethnic or tribal groups that may not be particularly fond of each other, it can be politically convenient for someone involved in politics at the national level to use a western name instead of their traditional name which links them to their particular ethnic background. No, this is unlearned speculation The last name gives this information and in any case it is impossible to hide such background. It is simple, the European origin first names are an identified of the christians. People may have another name also used. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/18 "2015-10-23T20:02:07Z")
So these are their real names? I know a lot of Chinese who come over here to North America adopt a euro-Christian given name (Charles Cheung, Vincent Lee, Tom Lo were acquaintances). I suspect this was because their Asian given names were difficult to spell or say, or confusing. (Yiu Wing Leung also was sometimes addressed as Leung Yiu Wing, so given names came last) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/19 "2015-10-23T20:58:38Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > So these are their real names? > > I know a lot of Chinese who come over here to North America adopt a euro-Christian given name (Charles Cheung, Vincent Lee, Tom Lo were acquaintances). I suspect this was because their Asian given names were difficult to spell or say, or confusing. (Yiu Wing Leung also was sometimes addressed as Leung Yiu Wing, so given names came last) At least parts of many of these countries were colonized by Europeans for centuries. The names have been used in these countries almost as long as they’ve been used in the Americas. French, English, and Portuguese are still official languages in these countries, and often used as a lingua franca because of the variety of other languages. People are perfectly familiar with these names; they are not really “foreign” any more. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546/20 "2015-10-23T23:31:56Z")
In some cases, it’s not really right to think of a single “real name.” That’s a cultural concept. In Northern Cameroon, people would have a set of names for different contexts. Most people have an ethnic name following their ethnic group’s customs (my town had a complex system based on birth order.) Then they’d usually have a nickname that was what everyone actually called them. Then they may have a Muslim/Christian/English/French name on top of that. This would most likely be used on official paperwork, and may or may not be used professionally. Finally, some people picked up or were given names based on certain circumstances. My neighbor said her name was picked out by her friends at her wedding. In a world where you may pass through life with little paperwork or documentation, where you aren’t writing your name on forms all your life, the distinction of one’s “real name” is not as meaningful. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-african-leaders-have-english-western-first-names/735546.md?page=2)