“I’m Taking Back What’s Mine”: Thandiwe Newton On Reclaiming Her Zulu Name

British-Zimbabwean actor Thandiwe Newton is now going to be credited with her Zulu name after years of being known as Thandie.

In an interview with Vogue UK, Newton dove into the traumas that have haunted her success throughout her career. From directors and producers who preyed on her as a minor, to the colourism and anti-Blackness that both cost her and gained her roles — she covers it all.

But the biggest takeaway from the interview is regarding Newton’s name — more specifically, Newton’s reclamation of her Zulu name, Thandiwe. “That’s my name,” she says. “It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine.”

The director of my first film asked to use my actual name for the character – because it was authentic and beautiful. I felt flattered and agreed. And then in the credits they used my ‘nickname’ to differentiate from the character name. They stole my name. And I’m taking it back. https://t.co/O4jPtxj06D

— Thandiwe Newton OBE (@ThandiweNewton) April 5, 2021

Following the interview, Newton tweeted that the director of the first film she ever starred in used her real name for the character she played and then mis-credited her with her ‘nickname’ in the credits. “They used my ‘nickname’ to differentiate from the character name,” she tweeted. “They stole my name. And I’m taking it back.”

Newton’s decision to use her full Zulu name moving forward has been met with tumultuous congratulations and celebration. As someone who also has a non-white ethnic name, it’s nothing short of inspiring.

Sincerest apologies from me, for error in @BritishVogue My name ‘Thandiwe’ is Zulu, my Mother’s tribe is Shona. That’s what happens when you’re separated from your identity for so long, that you forget who you are #ZimbabweanLivesMatter??

— Thandiwe Newton OBE (@ThandiweNewton) April 5, 2021

Acknowledging that my Arabic name does not carry the same risk of anti-Blackness as Newton’s, I relate to not correcting misspelling and mispronunciation for fear and convenience of whiteness. My name, Merryana, has always seemed relatively uncomplicated to me — yet the number of times the spelling or pronunciation has been butchered by (mostly) white people unwilling to make the effort to learn is endless.

One of my earliest memories of primary school is a teacher writing my name on a cup for me, spelling it ‘maryanna.’ When I spoke up that she had spelled it wrong, she waved a hand at me, smiling dismissively. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “You know it’s yours.” This doesn’t cover the deliberate and accidental mispronunciations that range from the very original ‘marijuana’ to the totally incorrect ‘Marie-Anne’.

All of Thandiwe Newton’s future films will be credited with the W in her first name, after it was carelessly missed out from her first credit: “That’s my name. It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine.”

(https://t.co/Uac0OYctN2) pic.twitter.com/l15AAQSsoR

— Film Updates (@TheFilmUpdates) April 4, 2021

Btw asking someone you don’t know (well)who has an ethnic name if you can call them a “nickname” is not a term of endearment it’s a micro aggression & you don’t have the right to say there is no malicious/sinister intent you just don’t do it
I thought that was just common sense

— Ambs (@AmberRoseGill) January 20, 2021

This has continued to happen throughout my life on name badges, work contracts, invitations, and even awards. Much like Thandiwe Newton, the ‘nickname’ I go by, Merry, was not one I initially agreed to. ‘Merry’ was assigned to me originally by a music tutor who saw my name written down and said: “Not gonna try with that one. How about ‘Merry’?” Lucky for them, I was a big Lord of the Rings fan and let it stick.

To this day, I often introduce myself as ‘Merry’ and my social handles @akajustmerry. This is not out of shame — anyone who knows me well enough knows I am very proud to be Lebanese. No, I persist with Merry mostly out of a protective habit, not wanting to have my name butchered out of apathy or racial ignorance.

White teachers after trying to pronounce one ethnic name pic.twitter.com/UERy0eXI0R

— chi✿chi (@bbylychee) March 29, 2018

This is the difference between merely having a foreign or differently spelled name, and an ethnic name that directly connects to non-white heritage. I appreciate that many European ethnic groups struggle with the butchering of their names too, but correcting people on your European name does not risk racial discrimination or vilification faced by those of us with non-white ethnic names. For example, a 2015 ANU study found that job applicants with Chinese, Middle Eastern, and Indigenous sounding names were far less likely to get called for an interview than those with European names.

Thandiwe Newton’s name is beautiful and harks back to her royal Shona heritage. The reclamation of her Zulu name is a big risk, an even bigger deal, and a massive inspiration to those of us with names we allow to be watered down for the convenience and fear of being othered.

Reminder:

There's no "ethnic" name that's "too complicated" for white people to pronounce properly and memorize. Not when names like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff exist without pushback.

Their hang-up has nothing to do with the names. It's just the same old racism.

— Get in, loser, we're going to hell (@angryblkhoemo) October 17, 2018

I have many friends and loved ones with stunning non-white names who go by shortened or anglicised ‘nicknames’ to avoid the hassle and heartache of being told their name isn’t worth the effort. These are people who will benefit from Thandiwe Newton showing them that it’s never too late, or too inconvenient, to correct the world on your real and beautiful ethnic name.

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