The Day My Father’s Tribe Told Me I Wasn’t ‘One of Them’: How I Changed My Name from ‘Toyin’ to ‘Ihuoma’

My father’s tribe told me I wasn’t a part of them in 2017. That was the day I changed my third name from ‘Toyin’ to ‘Ihuoma’.

Make I even talk the story sef:

I was in SS1 when I was selected to deliver a speech on Children’s day at Lekan Salami Stadium, on behalf of all children in Oyo state. My school was asked to produce a speaker and they chose me. I can’t forget the joy I felt when my principal informed me that morning.

She asked if I had a better uniform, socks and all. Right there, we called my dad to inform him that I’ll need new socks, new sandals, a haircut, all the senrenren. My father bought all the required stuff that same day. Now, I was asked to submit my details to be forwarded to those in charge: Name, school, class, DOB, parents’ full name, state of origin, etc. I submitted my name as “Goodluck Oluwatoyin Akinlawon.” Since they asked for mother’s name, I added it there (an Igbo name). For SOO, I filled “Ogun”. For residence, I filled “Oyo.”

Heck, I wasn’t even fluent in Igbo at the time. All I knew was English and Yoruba. We submitted the details and I went on to prepare my speech. After two days, they asked us to send a copy of the speech for them to vett. We did. Tell me why three days to the event, these people called my principal that we should not bother sending a rep. My principal was furious, but she managed to ask what their reason was. And that was where we heard it.

They told us that they wanted a “full Yoruba child” to represent the state since it is a Yoruba state. My Principal even asked them “shebi Baba lo lomo”, meaning “Isn’t it the father that owns the child?” These people no gree o. After my principal refused to let them rest they called her back and said they actually wanted a child from Oyo state, that’s why they disqualified me. Toor, my principal sha weak. But on the day of the event, she suddenly called me and one teacher. She asked us to follow the march-past guys to the stadium, just in case.

We got to the stadium and I listened patiently until they called the girl that was to deliver the speech. Guess the state she was from? Ekiti. What was worse? They infused some parts of my speech into hers and gave her to read. I couldn’t even cry.

I went home that day with the realisation that if organizers of a state event could do that, I’ll never be enough to be fully Yoruba. And I accepted it. From that day onward, I started using “Ihuoma” as my third name and it became permanent after my WAEC registration.

So yes, half cabbage, half mango. I am only family to those who see me as family. Ese o.