Cadbury and Yaw Penxe brings real Mzansi names to the commentary box
Because the power in your name deserves to be acknowledged and spoken aloud.
Cadbury has reintroduced this year’s #RealMzansiNames campaign, starting with Ox Nche, now with Yaw Penxe, reminding South Africans that a name is more than its pronunciation; it carries history, identity, and the story of who you are.
Rugby Union player Yaw Penxe takes the conversation home in an intimate moment with his mother, opening up about the common mispronunciation of his name. In an Instagram reel, his mother explains that Yaw means “a baby boy born on a Thursday”, a name rooted in a cultural belief that boys born on Thursdays are naturally kind-hearted. Yet, despite the beauty and simplicity of his name, many people still default to calling him by his clan names to avoid the “challenge” of saying Yaw or Penxe correctly.
While Yaw’s name may be unfamiliar to some, he and his mom share why its proper pronunciation matters. Their story highlights a simple truth that saying someone’s name correctly is a small act of respect that carries deep meaning.
Their words and experience reinforce the heart of Cadbury’s #RealMzansiNames campaign, a celebration of South African names, their meaning, their heritage, and the pride that comes with hearing them spoken right.
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.
