GNL Zamba on the Power of Surnames – A BSA Perspective

By Busia Stories And Art (BSA Owned)

via his Facebook account

A wave of reflection is sweeping across Uganda, thanks to a bold message from legendary rapper and poet, GNL Zamba. In a recent interview aired on Sanyuka TV, Zamba voiced a deep concern: too many parents today are avoiding giving their children traditional surnames at birth – all in the name of appearing “modern.”

According to him, this trend is more than just a naming choice – it's a quiet crisis of cultural identity. Our names, especially surnames, are not just words; they’re vessels carrying ancestry, history, and a powerful connection to who we are as African people.

“A Name Is A Heritage”

GNL Zamba describes African surnames as a kind of “biological GPS” – a way to trace one's lineage, heritage, and community. He urges parents not to discard this rich cultural system out of fear of seeming backward or uneducated.

Image via Dj Erycom website account.

In places like Busia, this message hits home. Our surnames are not random. They’re full of meaning, often linked to family legacy, spiritual identity, or community pride. Dropping them, in pursuit of foreign names, might feel like progress – but it could be a form of self-erasure.

Where Did This Start?

The pressure to abandon African surnames didn’t come from nowhere. Colonialism, missionary education, and western influence encouraged many Africans to take up Christian or English names, often sidelining traditional naming customs.

But today, we must ask: Should we keep playing by those old rules? Zamba believes it’s time to reclaim our naming rights and remember that no culture is more valid than our own.

via his Facebook account

The Real-World Impact

Beyond identity, dropping traditional names is causing real confusion in some parts of Africa. Historians and elders in countries like Nigeria and Kenya say it's harder to trace lineage, which affects marriage, land rights, and inheritance.

Without clear family names, we risk disconnection, not just from our ancestors but from each other.

A Call for Cultural Restoration

Here at BSA, we believe Zamba’s message is a timely wake-up call. It’s not about rejecting modernity, but about carrying our culture with us into the future. Let’s teach our children that surnames are powerful. They are declarations of where we’ve come from and symbols of where we’re going.

Giving your child your indigenous surname is not a sign of backwardness – it’s an act of honor and pride.

 Watch the full interview on Sanyuka TV’s Facebook Page.
Credit: GNL Zamba (Interview via Sanyuka TV)