Cadbury and Aaliyah Njumen bring real Mzansi names to the commentary box
Because your name carries your unique identity.
Cadbury has relaunched this year’s #RealMzansiNames campaign, honouring South African names, the stories behind them, and the pride that comes with hearing them spoken correctly.
The campaign first returned with Retshegofaditswe “Ox” Nché, who reminded Mzansi that the power of a name lies not only in how it sounds, but in the story it carries. This was followed by Yaw Penxe, who opened up a heartfelt conversation with his mother. She explained that his name refers to a baby boy born on a Thursday, which is traditionally associated with gentle and kind-hearted children. Their story highlights how mispronunciation often leads people to avoid using his surname, despite its meaning and significance.
Now, the third chapter comes from Aaliyah Tchogna Njumen and her mother. In her video, Aaliyah shares that her name means “to rise”, reiterating that every time it’s pronounced correctly, she rises with it. Her mother expands on this, explaining that Aaliyah’s name speaks to rising or ascending, and that it also connects to the name Naledi, chosen by her sister. She emphasises that saying Aaliyah’s name correctly matters because it honours who she is.
Together, the stories of Ox, Yaw, and Aaliyah reinforce a simple truth, which is that saying someone’s name correctly is a small act of respect, but one with deep meaning.
This is the heart of Cadbury’s #RealMzansiNames campaign, which uplifts the beauty, pride, and heritage found in South African names.
About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate’s Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, and Toblerone chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class North America and World Indices, formerly Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on X at x.com/MDLZ.
