South Africans love giving international celebrities names, it’s really our thing.
In the words of Dale Carnegie “A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” and as South Africans we love dishing them out.
We’ve compiled a list of a few instances we’ve given our favorite celebrities names:
Kevin ‘Mpho’ Hart
Kevin was as on an international comedy tour in March 2016 and performed in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg and this happened:
@KevinHart4real apparently Mr Hart was given the name “Mpho” in South Africa,which means “Gift” so Mr Hart is a Gift to us as South Africans,since he blessed and graced us with his presence 🙂 You sure have a big ❤️ “Mpho” pic.twitter.com/rIfPZzw7lM
— Authentic Sir Uphasin (@UpasinK) August 20, 2019
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Toni ‘Naledi’ Tone
It is one of the biggest songs in the country at the moment and after Toni Tone, a writer, speaker, content creator, and the host of BBC 1Xtra’s ‘ Money Moves’ podcast jammed to the song and we gave her the name:
Okay now I have to ask what “Naledi” means because apparently that’s my new name 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— TONI NALEDI TONE (@t0nit0ne) May 18, 2021
Why is Naledi trending in SA???!! 😭😭😭😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 ❤️❤️❤️
— TONI NALEDI TONE (@t0nit0ne) May 18, 2021
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Toni ‘Naledi’ Tone’s brother is ‘Thabiso’
Her brother also got a name:
.So @t0nit0ne asked South Africa to give me a name.
I am now Thabiso ✊🏾
Danko. pic.twitter.com/n9PjUKejKs
— Tazer (@tazerofficial) May 19, 2021
Harry and Meghan’s son’s name is “Ntsika”
Remember that trip when Harry and Meghan came to South Africa, we also gave their son Archie a name:
The @TheJusticeDesk present Harry and Meghan with a South African Xhosa name for Archie — “Ntsika” which means pillar of strength. The name was chosen by the township’s Gogo’s (grandmother’s). pic.twitter.com/5RzagxXfBN
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) September 23, 2019
Jill ‘Mamekgaya’ Scott
This was is a real throwback to 2012, when we Twitter was starting to be a thing. Jill Scott started calling herself ‘Mamekgaya’, meaning the mother of the home.

When Jill Scott tweeted her ‘Zulu’ name “Mamekgaya” and SA was like hope guuurl #TwitterMemories
— lavas (@whylerato) December 15, 2015
Swizz ‘Sizwe Makhathini’ Beats
Swiss Beats also made his way to Mzansi, and was jamming to amapiano and Twitter could resist. We gave him the name Sizwe Makhathini.
Sizwe Makhathini https://t.co/GbVVp7EoWV
— FRESH AZIMIZ (@Mr_BluSkyy) February 9, 2018
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While we are on the topic of names, there are also some celebrities who actually have South African names but don’t use them well, the pronunciation also needs to be right:
Is it Masego or Mase-y-go
Extended stay Ep on the way! Anyone who buys Merch before midnight hears the the song dropping tonight early before JCole takes over your ears. https://t.co/LA3AZRMuhC pic.twitter.com/qL5oHHWSPx
— Maségo (@UncleSego) May 13, 2021
Is it Goapele or Go-apple- le
As a mom I believe in supporting youth voices! YES on Measure QQ @oaklandyouthvote pic.twitter.com/W7qgEn5yWK
— Goapele (@Goapele) October 9, 2020



