A Brazilian court has rejected the name chosen by a couple for their baby over fears it might face bullying because of it. The parents, Danillo and Catarina Primola, wanted to name their child after Piye, the first in a line of black pharaohs who ruled ancient Egypt, but its pronunciation was a dealbreaker.
“There was a word there that talked about the black pharaoh. We went to research what it was like and we found the story of Piié, who was a Nubian warrior who fought and conquered Egypt and became the first black pharaoh,” Danillo explained to Daily Mail.
The couple sought to honour their African heritage with their newborn son’s name, but the Minas Gerais Court of Justice argued that being named Piye would subject the kid to ridicule and bullying throughout his life.
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Pronunciation is key
According to reports, the pharaoh’s name is pronounced in a way that could be mistaken for “Piié”, the Portuguese word for a ballet dance step, the court said in a ruling.
"That is why the sound and spelling of the name were preponderant for the rejection, since they would be capable of causing future embarrassment to the child,” it argued.
Ban not an antidote for bullying
Danillo believes there’s no stopping bullying, which he said can only be prevented through education, awareness and compassion.
"We know that bullying cannot be combated by prohibiting it, nor can it be combated by oppression. Bullying can be combated by studying and working on the ignorance of society as a whole," he said.
Danillo added that reviving African was a powerful way to give a “new narrative” to black history.
“We have the right to educate our children with this strength, this culture and in a way that they have representation in their name,” he said.