Even Jesus is called by his name…

The multi-national company I previously worked for in my career once organised a staff-focused initiative called ‘Sharpening The Culture’. As the name implied, it was about the impact of culture on an organisation and the session was going very well until the issue of calling each other by first names came up. It was as if the oyinbo facilitator had detonated a bombshell.

Total bedlam and chaos reigned for the next half an hour.

Raised voices.

Clenched fists.

Contorted faces.

For.

Against.

Seated next to one of the oyinbo facilitators, I felt a sense of shame especially when I saw the perplexed expression on their faces.
It was inconceivable to them that such a “trivial” issue would trigger such heated passions and extreme emotions.

A carefully cultivated brand built over almost 40 years was in danger of being destroyed in less than 40 minutes of mayhem and bedlam.

One of the oyinbo facilitators must have sensed my dismay because he started to probe further, no doubt looking to “sweeten” the report he would write about the event.

“Why is this such a hot button issue, Gbenga?”

I explained to him as best as possible about the Nigerian culture of respect for elders, blah blah blah. He listened silently but was clearly unconvinced. To him, calling someone’s first name was not disrespectful and should not be a big deal. Certainly not to the level of causing the chaos unfolding before our eyes.

Was it a reflection of the leadership of the company? he wondered.

“Not at all,” I countered, assuring him that the furore over first names was not representative of the company’s leadership or indeed the company itself.

I was making one of the final presentations before the session wrapped up when the CEO of the company, Bunmi Oni, came in to participate in the closing ceremonies. Still pained by the oyinbo man’s snide remarks about our country and the company, I decided to seize the opportunity to debunk the negative perceptions.

Totally unscripted, I launched into a monologue, “welcoming Bunmi to this session and for the benefit of Bunmi, let me quickly recap some of the key aspects of this session….”.

I must have mentioned the name “Bunmi” a dozen times within minutes.

Seated next to the Oyinbos who were watching him very closely, Mr Oni’s face remained impassive and his demeanour didn’t betray any displeasure at a “small boy” unexpectedly calling him by his first name. He even chuckled a few times at some of my statements which he found hilarious…

The Oyinbo facilitators were then firmly convinced that there was nothing wrong with us as a people and as a company.

Unbeknownst to him at that time, Mr Oni had saved our face and preserved the company’s reputation.

I am all for respecting our elders and preserving our culture. However, except you regard your own name as an insult, being called by your first name by someone younger than you is not enough reason to throw a hissy fit and meltdown as if the most unimaginable blasphemy has been committed.

Remember… even Jesus is called by his first name!