My name is Siyamthanda Qhama Mkheyiya. The story behind my name carries a deep meaningful message. When my mother was carrying me her parents weren’t happy because she was still young – only 18 years old. Because of the stress my mother was under, my father left us and I was born premature. My mother’s parents loved me a lot so she named ‘Siyamthanda.’ My granny said I must bloom and be a flower, so she named me ‘Qhama.’ My grandfather named me, ‘Qaqamba’ which has the same meaning as Qhama. Years passed and I was the bubbliest kid on the street and people nicknamed me, ‘Nomgqabuzo’ because I talk a lot – me and silence are not buddies so it’s easy to recognise me when I’m hurt.

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This piece of writing was created as part of the WritingMe Writing Clubs with Sophumelela High School, Western Cape. Find out more here.