Today’s blog for Black History Month 2025 was written by Dambu Tenner, Head of Legal at Abri.
My name is Sambukire Dambudzo Tenner. Since I can remember, I have gone by my middle name. Most know me as Dambu; but other than with my family, that is not the name that I have been called by people all of my life. When I lived in the US, I was called “Buzzo” and for period of my life in the UK, I was called “D” or “Dam”.
Why all the variations of my name? Although my name would not be classed as unusual in southeast Africa, where I was born (there is even a famous author by that name), it is not so common in the US or the UK. Growing up and even when I was an adult, I felt I had to apologise for having an unusual name.
So, to make it easier for those around me, I would introduce myself as Dambu but would quickly add “but you can just call me ‘D’”. However, the older I got, the more I recognised that I like my name. Your name goes to the heart of your identity. I was named after my great grandmother, and I am proud that I was given her name- it gives me a connection to her when I did not get an opportunity to meet her.
I do not know when my thinking shifted, but there came a point when I no longer apologised for having an unusual name. I introduced myself as “Dambu” and when people struggled with the pronunciation, I would say it slowly and phonetically and for the most part, most people are then able to say it with ease.
There are some people who still do struggle, but I don’t give in, and I will continue to repeat the correct pronunciation to help them figure it out. It is only two syllables- three if you decide to call me by my full name, in which case I may avoid you as I associate that with being in trouble! So, I no longer try to accommodate others when I introduce myself but proudly ask that I be called by my (preferred) name.
Now you may also be wondering if my name has a meaning, as most African names do, and I can confirm, mine is no exception. However, the meaning of my name is a story for another day. The only thing I will say is that although I was named after my great grandmother, when I tell people what my name means, they often say that my parents predicted the future!
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.