A notable shift is occurring in Kenya as men increasingly adopt their mothers' surnames, challenging traditional naming conventions and facing both admiration and criticism. This practice, while not entirely new, has gained visibility and sparked a broader conversation about identity, family ties, and societal perceptions of masculinity.
Peter Kĩgia, a Kenyan musician in his 60s known for playing benga music, was an early adopter of his mother's surname, becoming Kĩgia wa Esther. He sees taking a mother's name as an act of love and respect. His music company, Wa Esther Productions, reflects this commitment.
His example has inspired younger male musicians, who now publicize their performances using their mother's surnames, such as Waithaka wa Jane and 90K Ka Msoh, on Nairobi billboards. Although their legal surnames often remain male, the public adoption of maternal surnames marks a significant symbolic change.
Journalist Simon Macharia wa Mwaura also chose his mother's name as his official surname, citing his father's absence throughout his life. Raised primarily by his grandmother after his mother's death in 2003, he had no surname until he applied for a birth certificate during his final year of high school.
This practice is not without its challenges. Some Kenyans perceive individuals with maternal surnames as lacking certain morals or being undisciplined, particularly if raised by a single mother. Broadcaster Evans Kibe Waceke notes that these perceptions can affect how a person is viewed in society.
The debate intensified approximately two years ago when motivational speaker Robert Burale publicly stated that maternal surnames undermined men's masculinity. This sentiment was echoed by TV personality Fred Mũitĩrĩrĩ, who shared his personal struggles with having a maternal surname. He recounted experiences of embarrassment during his childhood and admitted that these difficulties contributed to him developing depression at age 23, leading him to eventually drop his mother's name and use only his first names.
In Kikuyu tradition, children often inherit their father's first name as a surname. However, cultural experts like Wairimũ Mũkũrũ explain that in cases where a father is absent or rejects the child, the mother's eldest brother traditionally assumes a paternal role. This offers a cultural precedent for a maternal lineage to be recognized within naming conventions, although the formal adoption of a mother's surname by a male child is still a point of contention for some.