OPINION… Re: Elumelu: Addressing elders by their first names is African culture
My recent piece about the young woman who addressed Chief Tony Elumelu as “Tony” has generated quite a response. Good. Public commentary should provoke thought, disagreement, and, occasionally, the useful discovery that some of the things we confidently call “our culture” may not be our culture after all. One argument has appeared repeatedly in responses […] The post OPINION… Re: Elumelu:…
The recent piece about a young woman addressing Chief Tony Elumelu as "Tony" sparked widespread discussion. While some have asserted that addressing elders by their first names is not part of African culture, the author argues that this claim overlooks the nuances of traditional African social structures. In many African cultures, addressing elders by their first names is a common and culturally appropriate practice, with an honorific attached to convey respect.
For example, one may be addressed as "Maduabuchi" by peers, "Maduabuchi" by those of the same age, and "Dee Maduabuchi" by younger individuals. This distinction highlights the importance of considering the relationship between individuals when determining appropriate titles. The author points out that Chief Elumelu's preference for formal titles such as "Mr.
Elumelu" or "TOE" stems from Western conventions rather than African cultural norms. The piece concludes by emphasizing that the true essence of African culture lies not solely in the use of first or last names, but in the broader social context that includes tone, gesture, posture, and social roles. The author warns against reducing African culture to a simplistic binary and cautions against importing Western conventions while condemning the use of first names.
Written by urgent.news from Ripples Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
