I dislike my name Owusu-Bonsu - Wanlov
Wanlov the Kubolor revealed that he does not like being addressed by the name Owusu-Bonsu because it reminds him of colonial influence and distorted African identity. In an interview on Asempa FM, Wanlov explained that he often reacts with surprise whenever strangers call him by that name in public. He said, "Sometimes when I am in traffic, I hear people shouting 'Owusu Bonsu,' and I turn around thinking it might be one of my old schoolmates, but then I realise it is just someone who has learned that is my name."
According to Wanlov, the name's pronunciation and structure carry colonial influences he finds uncomfortable. He stated, "When I hear the name, I think about colonialism. They corrupted the pronunciation of my name, so if people pronounce my name the proper way, I would prefer that." Wanlov also spoke about his thoughts on the name "Emmanuel," which he partly associates with ancient historical meanings rather than only religious interpretation. He stated, "With the 'Koo Emma,' I manage it because it has ancient history. 'Emmanu' means student and 'el' means God, so it means 'student of God.'" He further shared another interpretation of the name linked to ancient beliefs and symbolism, claiming, "The 'el' is also linked to the planet Saturn, so one of the oldest meanings is 'student of Saturn.'"
According to Wanlov, many people have misunderstood the original meaning of the name over time. He added, "People take the 'el' to mean God, which is why many say Emmanuel means 'God is with you,' but I see it more as 'student of God.'"
Quick Summary
Wanlov the Kubolor has expressed his discomfort with his given name, Owusu-Bonsu. He associates the name with colonial influences and a distortion of African identity - sparking a conversation about names and their deeper meanings.
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