My name is Daudi. Easy name. Daudi. 20+ years ago today when I was born that is what my parents decided to name me. Why then do so many people have issues with it? It has made for some ridiculous moments. Comme ca:
I was in the UK just after Princess Diana died and for a while a lot of people thought that I was related or connected to Dodi Al-Fayed. Yeah, Daudi = Dodi!
Then for a while many thought I was connected to or trying to imitate the Scottish International Doddie Weir, a guy whose first and last name are pronounced almost exactly as my first and last name. I lost count the number of times I would make reservations for something and turn up to find they had spelt my name Doddie Weir. They would expect a huge Scottish second row and instead get a smaller Kenyan loose head prop.
The most ridiculous moment connected to my name happened at the first day in a new job while I was in Manchester. My manager walked up to me, fixed me with a steely glare and stated in a loud voice, “David, you’ve spelt your name wrong on the form.†I leaned back and looked at her and asked her, “Just what type of a muppet do you think I am that I would misspell my own bleeding name, you cartoon.†Ok I wish I had said that. What I really said was, “My name is Daudi, not David. I do not misspell my name.â€
She was British and perhaps you can understand why she would confuse, or prefer, David with Daudi.
What I find strange is that Kenyans equally have a problem with Daudi. There are many people who insist on calling me David no matter how many times I tell them my name is Daudi. Then there are those who when I protest at being called David announce to me, like it is breaking news, that Daudi is the kiswahili version of David.
Yes. I. Know. That. Believe it or not.
No one goes around calling David Daudi so why do they insist on calling Daudi David? In fact no one goes around calling Dawit David or Daud David or Dawd David. They just have a problem with Daudi! One time I had to renew an official document and the mad people behind the counter went and changed my name, in my official documents, to David! When I protested they said they were (and I quote exactly), “doing me a favour†ARGGGGHHHHH! And it is Kenyans. Tanzanians have no problem calling me Daudi, Ugandans have no problem calling me Daudi, all other Kiswahili speakers love to call me Daudi. But Kenyans, David, David, David!
I am attached to the name Daudi. It is my name. As in most societies around the world those who named me did not just pick a name out of the blue. Daudi was my father’s father. My grandfather. I am named after him and I consider that a massive honour. So when you call me David and I flip a little bit, be easy and understand where I am coming from.
Hehe, yeah I’ve waiting to get that off my chest for a while now – indulge me this once!
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Happy birthday man.
Really funny. You brought it out so well, simple but articulate. But why should Kenyans have the problem? I think many take it to be the kiswahili version of David and coz Kenyans are quite westernised they go for the ‘english’ version.
Hmmm, I am one of those Kenyans who thought that Daudi is actually David in Swahili.
Now Iam more informed
Great post in honour of your birthday. I feel your pain Doddie! You forgot your trusty “namesake” the Assistant Minister and MP, Hon. David Were Let us know the day you’re mistakenly picked up from your blogging cave by a Merc flying the Kenyan flag!
LMAO. Happy bday. You need to change your name to Udi. One- Guaranteed love from the women. The name sounds exotic. Two- You will never be told its David.
Happy Birthday Muppet, sorry David, eeerrr. Well, Mental.
I also have one of the simplest two-syllable name on earth and in the UK you have no idea how many versions are used, so I feel ur pain. But I am laughing at you tho :D
Oh and in Kenya they maintain that they have never heard it… WHAT?
happy b-day Daudi.
LOOOL. Nice post.
The first time I met you, I thought, oh yeah, its DAVID….but he’s trying to be all ethnic and stuff, you like me, how I lost my English names…..(yes, I have amazing insight into people’s minds and that whole Dr. Phil stuff) then after a while I realised, ala! it is your name!
So, si I had to name you? First it was “Dee” (think Carlos Mencia “dee dee dee”) but it was more in the sense of Dee dee, Dexters’s sister….hehehe! Then you were like it sounds girlie… but alas! dude man, you are totally anal about your name huh? All this in two days of meeting you, yaani, the name had to be clear first.
I can’t even imagine calling you David…you are so ‘D’, ‘Daudi’ or “Mental’, you know!! Definately not a David…thats just odd.
On other news, I hope you had an awesome birthday Davidoff cool water. So, right, what did YOU get ME for YOUR birthday? You know how I roll….and was there a party? Is there one on Sato? and why am I not invited already?
Halafu, the way you went “My name is Daudi”…..Doooood! (slight pun), I was waiting for
D: My name is daudi, and I’m a geek
Geeks Anon: Hiiiiiiii Daudi.
(Alafu of course the slow geeks (oxymoron if ever there was one), will be huko “Hiii David”, aiii, si that will be the real deal, you, getting cured of geekiness but then before you start you educate them on your name; “Daudi” and its origin….then, the healing can begin.
Then the session moderator screamin, “stop! stop! this is what got us here in the first place”….hehehe, wacha tu, my mind is making a movie as we speak.
Buuut……thaz all I came to say.
Happy belated birthday!
Hey Daudi, I met you at the Highway Africa conference. I have to say your presentation was one of my highlights through the whole thing. Thanx again for an awesome experience.
Anyway, i know the feeling of people calling you whatever they feel like at the time. It’s certainly not cool and it depicts the purpose of being named in the first place. For instance, my name means ‘the conquerer’ or ‘to have conquered’. And the most beautiful thing about it is the click sound… but no… people feel otherwise. If its not ‘oh i can’t get the click’,,, then its ‘can i at least call you Noble or Nobile’ or whatever suits them.
Daudi to David- what nonsense is that? The first time I heard your name, i had no idea what it meant, but i thought it was a beautiful name. I believe names possess immense powers that are sort of inscribbed into our lives. So if if you were named Daudi, people should aknowledge that, respect it and simply call you by name
Oh… Happy belated birthday, and i hope u had a fabulous one!
aww man, i missed your birthday?!
happy belated; hope it was a good one.
LOL! Missed this one yesterday.
I think Daudi is a very nice name. And hey, how come ppl remember Daudi Kabaka but still call you David?
I wish they had named me Daudi man. They gave me Philemon Bob Paul. Mention that name in Europe and all they expect is the Whiteboy with blond hair to show up only to be disappointed to see I’m black as a piece of ebony.
I became rebelious and adapted Sankofa, so I’m Bob Sankofa. At least that helps to confuse people who hear my name for the first time. I don’t have any problems with Identity but at least don’t bury my African origins as I wont bury the European one. I’m still Bob you know?
Daudi is never David, Daudi is just Daudi. Belated HB my brother
LOL, after all these years the saga continues. I remember the day you and Cynthia first met. You said something to the effect of “Hi, I’m Daudi” or perhaps I introduced you by saying something like “Cynthia, this is Daudi”. Regardless of how that intro started, Cynthia’s response was “David?”. (wtf??) OMG…. I can’t stop laughing at the look of irritation on your face. You were quick to correct her and I must say, I had never ever seen you that pissed off before (come to think of it I haven’t seen you that way since). Oh the memories :-).
Nimechelewa daudi,
Happy B’day.Nakutakia maisha mema
for me, ive been meaning to ask you, did u ever get that chair you so wanted…
Happy Birthday! If anyone ever calls me Daudi, I’ll make sure to let you know.
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