“Bana Vinea”

My friend States side asked me why I call myself “Bana Vinea”, well I thought I should let the be the first post in my “The more you know” posts. I basically want to highlight all the cultural or “normal” practices that differ from Zambia to America.

So, starting with “Bana Vinea”, here in Zambia parents are shown respect by referring to them as “Bana” or “Bashi” which translates to “mother of” or “father of” and then the name of their first born. It easily shows that they are a parent when they are introduced and usually that they are taken (have a partner).

In the end, I love being called “Bana Vinea”. It makes me feel that I no longer am my own but now I have grown to be another. No longer “Andi”, now “Bana Vinea”