Comic Actor Boy Alinco Urges Nigerian Parents To Dump Foreign Names

• The actor emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage through traditional names, stating that abandoning them could potentially lead to a loss of cultural identity.

• On the Teju Babyface Podcast, he praised Yoruba names like Oluwaseun, Oluwapamilerinayo, and Oluwasoromidayo, contrasting them with foreign names like Jayden or Biden.

Comic actor Bayo Bankole, widely recognized as Boy Alinco, has called upon parents to choose indigenous names for their children rather than opting for foreign alternatives.

He emphasized that this practice would contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage through names, warning that neglecting traditional names may result in a diminished sense of cultural identity.

During his appearance on the Teju Babyface Podcast, he celebrated the elegance of Yoruba names such as Oluwaseun, Oluwapamilerinayo, and Oluwasoromidayo, while advising against the inclination towards foreign names like Jayden or Biden.

In response to concerns regarding pronunciation, he challenged the notion that African names are difficult for non-Africans to articulate, pointing out that educational institutions successfully pronounce names from Dutch, Russian, and Indian backgrounds without difficulty.

Furthermore, he highlighted the challenges faced by African Americans in reconnecting with their heritage, contrasting this with the robust cultural connections maintained by Indian and Jewish communities through their names.

He said: “It’s because they changed their name, and that’s why I always encourage here that we don’t give our children, Jayden, Biden, all that stuff when we have beautiful names like Oluwaseun, Oluwapamilerinayo, Oluwasoromidayo.

“Look, some will say they won’t be able to call their names in schools, but it’s a lie. They call Dutch names, they call Russian names that even sound awkward.