“Hi, I’m Natasha, what’s your name.”
“Oh, I’m Faith. Nice to meet you.”
“Wait, is that not a female name?”
Look, right now I’m used to it and probably tired of explaining how my parents pre-planned the names of their children before birth and got a boy as the firstborn. Apparently, it was an instruction from God to name their children, Faith, Faithful and Faithfulness, in that order.
Sometimes I think if my life would have been any different if my name wasn’t something more sexily masculine, like you know, Frank or Dave or Charles. I like Charles. Charles seems like someone that would be a player. Sorry, Charles.
Or Henry. Sounds like the perfect Casanova. Should be fair and with pink lips. 6-footer and is very good at sports. Hello, Henry.
But I’m Faith. Five foot something, say ten, hypothetically. Brown-skinned and full lips. Gap teeth and uses glasses. Some suppose he’s a nerd till they start hanging around him. Hello Kezia.
Oh yeah, he’s also a musician. A rapper and singer. Plays the keyboard and intends to learn the drums next. But his church choir won’t let him. Hello Sister Confidence
So when I started doing music, my name was Phero. You know, Faith, Faitho, Phero. That’s how names stick to people.
Then I found out someone was using it and the guy was using it. So I became Clean Tone
Then I found out someone was using it and the guy was using it. So I became ID
Then I found out someone was using it and the guy was using it. So I became Phire D
I know the pattern is monotonous. I’m tired of it too. At this point, if anyone is using my name, either you fight me or you sue me in court. In fact, whoever blows up first should take the name lol.
Nas said a line in his song, The Cure, and I quote:
What's in a name? What's in a name? Suffering and pain
Guts, blood, and tears, aim straight, game face, king's grace
I could go on and on about how people fail to pronounce my stage name correctly or how I’m tired of them asking why a guy named Faith but then….
On the other hand, in the Bible, something else was said about a name
Genesis 32:27-28
“What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he answered. The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have struggled with God and with men, and you have won; so your name will be Israel.”
There is power in a name. The reason why Israel renamed Benoni (Son of My Sorrow) to Benjamin (Son Of My Right Hand).
Also, the same reason why Jesus (Saviour) and Emmanuel (God with us) is the name above all names.
At this point, I’m cool with both names. There was a time when I hated being called Faith, for real. But right now, if someone calls me Phire D, I see them as a fan, collaborator or business partner. If someone calls me Faith, I see them as a friend or someone on a more personal level.
Yesterday, one very good friend, Victor came up to me and told me he was thinking randomly, I’m Faith so in essence, I should walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is believing in you and something bigger than you that won’t let you go wrong. In this case, that happens to be God.
I AM…FAITH MMATA-VINCENT
I AM…PHIRE D
Comment below with your name(s) and the meaning behind it
Dope