Names in southern Africa are both creative and revealing
They illuminate the past as well as aspirations for the future
IF HE IS in a tight spot, says Trouble Kalua, people mention his name, asking, “What do you expect?” Shortly before his birth in Malawi, his father had lost his job as a bus conductor, impoverishing the family. Then the baby nearly died. “This boy is trouble,” his father said. “His name is Trouble.”
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Here comes Trouble”
Middle East & Africa February 26th 2022
- The enemies of South African democracy have the judiciary in their sights
- West Africa’s coastal states are bracing for a jihadist storm
- Names in southern Africa are both creative and revealing
- The UAE tries to crack down on dirty money
- Are Cairo’s menacing minibuses on their way out?
- The market for falcons is soaring as wild populations decline
From the February 26th 2022 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDiscover more
America under Joe Biden plays the pragmatist in Africa
Donald Trump is likely to follow suit
New cures for Africa’s most gruesome diseases
Sleeping sickness, riverblindess and more could be tackled
Nigeria seeks to restore pride in its artefacts, ancient and modern
A new museum in Benin City will showcase “a cauldron of creativity”
Donald Trump’s new Arab pal
Will a Lebanese-American businessman influence the incoming administration in the region?
Israel and Hizbullah strike a fragile deal to end their war
Joe Biden makes a last push to bring peace to the Middle East
The arrest warrant is a diplomatic disaster for Netanyahu
But may also undermine the International Criminal Court