I am a Ghanaian girl born on Basotho land. I ask you why my relatives know how to speak Twi and I don't, it was then when I was aware of the decision you had made to keep me away. My family has been filled with Ghanaians who can speak their native tongue but you made me the only different. When it's all set and done I do not know my native tongue. The truth is my I'm filled with Basotho air rather than the identity of Ghanaian princess. I was born to you as a citizen. I am trying to join them but I am stuck. Also, I wonder, who am I?I haven't come to a conclusion. I am forever shopping for a new identity. So I am an actor, I did Drama in high school and usually I have my props on stage but in this poem all my props are gone. I'm just revealed with nothing to hide asking myself who am I?I could say I am diverse but then again I think not. It's sad how I can't even pronounce my own name.

My Name

Many people live in wonder where my name comes from,
It is unique and to that they all can't be fond.
Pallang is but my Sotho name,

They told me it is a very strange name,
Told me it's unique and awkward
That its even hard to pronounce
Yet still I spelled it to them
P-A-LL-A-N-G
PALLANG is my name
It was supposed to be with an H but white woman who did my cirtificate chose to exclude the H
Maybe she wanted to make it easier
But still it ain't approved...

I end up being called with odd names
Pallanga the xhosas have called me
Palleng, Pillang or even Thabang the whites and coloureds called me
Yet my name is sweet and easy to pronounce
I'm Pallang Mofokeng a Sotho child...

They ask what it means
I say
It means overflow
The rivers filled with overflowing waters,
The cup of David filled with blessings
Then from there still they don't understand...

I say
I got the name from my late grand father
He had 4 daughters and only one son who happens to be my father
When I was born his grand son
He called out loud to the region of Morefe in Walaza
"PHALLANG BAFOKENG REFEOwe NGWANA A MOSHANYANA"
Then he probably called me his second son my own father's young brother
The name means the overflowing of blessings in the Mofokemg clan.
Still my name is beyond their understanding

They claim it's too much complicated for their tongues to pronounce,
So they resort into calling me with the meaning of my name

I end up being called overflow
I Pallang son of the great basotho clan of BAFOKENG...

My Name...