Great names
Great names of people we have met. Everyone is so polite and the first thing everyone does is say “Hello, my name is such and such, how are you?” So you always know someone’s name right up front. And we have come across some good ones.
On our game drive in Chobe we were met by “Hello my name is Kokai, but you can call me the General. General Kwanga, not the bad one, but the good General Kwanga. A bit of a lad.
The person who greeted us at Muyukuyuke River Lodge was called Lineker. Brilliant.
After our stressful border crossing into Tanzania there were two lovely girls on front desk. We asked their names and one said “Happy”, the second one with an embarrassed and weary look on her face said “Titti” knowing that English speaking people would find it amusing. Col recons Titti and Happy usually go together.
We have, at a police check point near Dedza had Hello I’m Inspector Isaac. All the guys in HiViz stayed put but this guy in a black puffer jacked and black pork pie hat came up to the driver’s window and asked to see our cart papers. Looked more like someone out of Madness than Malawi Police. We had to go back through this post the next morning to get to the border. He recognised us and just waved us straight through.
A lot of Africans in service have English names. The three guys at the elephant interaction were Roger, Stanley and Sydney, the guy in the check in at Negonye Falls was Joseph, the security guard at Forest Lodge campsite was Brian, the kid who made our fire at Muyukuyuke was Douglas, and the Park Ranger Crispin. Two of the staff at Hakuna Matata were Charles and Dave (Chas n Dave??)
Our knowledgeable and very well spoken guide on the Rhino walk was Chiinga, one of the few African names we’ve come across, but his soldier guard was Sam. We asked if the Rhino charges, would Sam shoot. Chiinga said yes he will shoot you. He’s not allowed to shoot Rhinos!
The strangest name for a white person was Col’s dive instructor in Vilanculo, a young lady from Twickenham called Blue.
The lady who owns the Giglio Hotel in Joburg is called Bianca, exotic in the 60’s but not now, and one of her staff is called Gugu - the temptation to call her Googoo Doll is strong!