Let Me Tell You About All My Names

I have been introducing myself a lot lately. I've been new in so many rooms where I feel destined to become familiar. When people meet me, I give them a list of options for names to address me by. After I say it, I get various responses lol. Let me tell you about each one.

I always start with my actual name -- Mahiri. It is pronounced Mah High Ree, and this is how I am addressed by those closest to me. My old friend Nkenna (rest in peace, king) once told me to always be proud of my name and to stand strong when teaching the correct pronunciation. I've always had a complicated relationship with my first name as it isn't "conventional" since it isn't American, and it doesn't sound like everybody else's. My name derives from the Swahili language and it means "wise, skillful, and clever". I have to give my parents some credit here because I literally wouldn't be having this conversation if they had given me literally any other name.

Following my first name, I offer the nickname "M". Why? The simple answer is that when I was 19, I swore it was so chic to go by my initial. But, 19 year old me was on to something because this is my first nickname that I ever gave myself based on my personality at the time. At this stage of my life was when I found my love of "creating a vibe" through photography, traveling, short films, editing, and anything of that nature. This was the first time I begin to find likeminded people in regards to the world of art. This was my first group of adult friends who built me up, and loved on me, and I hold a special place for that version of us in my heart. M was the one who found that community. M was my first taste of bravery, as it was also my first time on a plane alone, I met the first person I ever fell in love with, I started my first business, just so many firsts. Sharing my first initial as my first name is just so aligned with who I was at the time.

M Frankie is the whole character. M Frankie is who I became online. She is who y'all met in my first youtube vlogs and video diaries. She is who fell in love with creating content, the editing process, and the magic of seeing it all come together to create a beautiful production. M was first to explore the world, M Frankie was the first to see and create the magic in it.

Now, Frankie, who I have been introducing myself as recently, is somebody who can make some shit shake. Frankie truly can take nothing, turn it into something, triple it, refine it for the taste of whoever needs it, and make it look easy. Frankie is who I am now that I understand flow. This version of me is one who literally rose from the ashes and decided to make my life exactly what I want it to be. This is me with the same lack of fear as M, but now with passion and direction.

I share all of these names with you all because all of them are me, and each version of me still exists with these nicknames. I am often amused at how overwhelmed people's faces become when I list all of these names, but I am unashamed because through them I get to honor each version of myself. Lately, Frankie is my favorite one, but I'll forever have love for all of them.