NANIPO

       My father, years back, went against an old traditional custom and did what he thought was right for him because of love. To give an answer to his parents who disapproved his decision, he called me Nanipo which means I love her. My name came from Togo, one of the countries in western Africa. The story around my name describes love, courage and determination. Years back, in our traditional customs, men who were at age of marriage were supposed to choose women from their neighborhood for their wives. My father had to go against this custom because he was in love with my mother, who was from another city and another ethnic group. His parents were disappointed and obviously did not like my mother because she was the reason why their son, my father, disobeyed them. He named me Nanipo, which means I love her (his wife) as I was the fruit of their love and union. I admire my father’s courage and determination because after all my mother became his wife. If I was in his place, I would have done the same thing for the one I love. Today I can say I am proud to have been named this way.