Today’s blog for Black History Month 2025 was written by Habib Ouro-Gnao, Project Manager at Abri.
Black History Month is an opportunity to stop and reflect on the richness, resilience, and history of Black culture. For me, this reflection is deeply personal, as it intersects with my identity, my name, and the way I navigate the world.
Taking pride in my heritage
My full surname is Ouro-Gnao, pronounced Ooo-roh Gnah-oh.
Growing up in the UK, and even now professionally, I often shorten it to just Ouro to make it easier for people to say, offering pronunciations like "Euro" or "who-row." But in doing so, I was masking part of my heritage, simplifying a name that carries history, culture, and pride.
Ouro connects me to Togo and to West African culture, with its origin in the Yoruba language of Nigeria. The root, Wúrà, translates to "gold," "shining treasure," or "precious." The addition of Gnao further enriches this lineage, marking a distinct tribal heritage. Embracing the full pronunciation of Ouro-Gnao is about reclaiming my story and standing fully in my identity.
Standing firm in my identity
Being a Black man comes with additional, often unseen, challenges. Expressing passion, frustration, or assertiveness can be misinterpreted as aggression. I have found myself choosing silence over speaking up, not because my thoughts are invalid, but because of the fear of being judged unfairly. That constant self-monitoring comes with a real emotional cost: the exhausting effort to measure my tone, to suppress immediate responses, and to maintain a professional façade while carrying the weight of these negative perceptions.
Yet, there is power in standing firm in identity. Small acts of understanding and allyship, including making the effort to say someone’s name correctly, listening without assumptions, and creating space for authentic expression, make a meaningful difference. They allow us to build workplaces where heritage is honoured, voices are valued, and resilience is not just expected but respected.
Fun fact: If I were to return to Togo, I could serve as chief of a tribe in the absence of my father, a potent reminder of the leadership and history embedded in my name and lineage.
As we celebrate Black History Month, I encourage everyone to take a moment to learn the stories behind the names you encounter, because every name carries history, meaning, and pride. and by doing so, we stand in solidarity with those navigating similar paths.
My name is Habib Ouro-Gnao, and I am proud to bring my full identity, heritage, and perspective to my work at Abri.
Black History Month takes place every October and is a time to celebrate heritage, recognise resilience, and champion equality. At Abri, we want to make a meaningful contribution to improving inclusion and equality of opportunity for all our customers and colleagues.
Please take a moment this October to listen, learn and reflect on the experiences of black people, and think about how the small acts of understanding and allyship can make a big difference to individuals, and in our communities.
In a time that divisive and hateful language is becoming more common, join us in creating neighbourhoods where everyone feels respected and valued so together, we can make our communities stronger and more inclusive.