Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Were Just Presented with a Traditional South African Xhosa Name for Baby Archie
Baby Archie has not yet appeared publicly in South Africa, but he is already playing a starring role in the official visit. The 4-and-a-half-month-old has been given a traditional South African Xhosa name—Ntsika—chosen by the community’s grandmothers.
The name means pillar of strength and Jessica Dewhurst, the executive director of The Justice Desk, explained to T&C that visitors who come into township communities and engage with local people are typically given a traditional name.
“The reason we chose that was mostly because Archie means the same thing that Ntsika does. So Archie means strength, it means bravery and the South African equivalent of that is Ntsika,” she said.
“When you get your traditional name it’s what you will look up to be. So when they give you a name it’s your wish for you and your future.”
The name was announced as Harry and Meghan made their first visit of the tour to the Nyanga township in Cape Town, an area where crime rates and poverty are high, to see the work of projects helping to empower young people and women.
Both the Duke and Duchess made powerful speeches at the event before they were presented with a hoodie for Archie and his traditional name was announced. “They said they absolutely loved it. They said thank you so much. They wanted to put on the hoodie and I said ‘Harry that’s too small for you.’ They loved the fact that our presents were for Archie...They love the fact that they’ve brought him here and they can’t wait for him to experience the country,” Dewhurst said of Harry and Meghan's response.
She added, “For them to come here, it’s them saying that this work is so important they believe in it and they’re encouraging us to keep going and working hard.”Jessica met Harry after receiving her Queen’s Young Leaders medal for the organization’s work in 2016. She said “Her Majesty introduced me to Harry and they’ve all just kept tabs with us.”
You Might Also Like
