Growing up as a child, my dad was fond of telling us stories from the past, mostly ones from our family, and they were always interesting to listen to as we watched him get excited about them. I learned from him that he was to be crowned the next king in our hometown, but was refused by his late father.
He told us about the family lineage and how it was before his Dad converted to a born-again Christian and became a renowned Reverend father at Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA). Before he died, he’d warn our dad never to accept the position of a king because he wouldn’t want any of his children to be attached to kingship, where they wouldn’t give room for a genuine relationship with God. But he told his children to support anyone willing to become the next king.
He warned him sternly, and my dad promised not to. Even when they came to look for him in Lagos, in those days, there were no mobile phones to keep in touch. They travelled all the way from Kwara to Lagos in search of him, and when he was informed they were around, he left the house and hid himself. When they couldn’t see him, they returned days later and chose someone else.
Listening to him tell us this story, I felt sad on one side because I already wished to see myself as a king's daughter and would be called a princess. Perhaps I asked why he didn’t accept the role, but remembering what his father told him made me understand even as a young child. But Dad told us something that assured us that we don’t have to be the king's daughter to be called a princess. He said for as long as we live, we are princesses and princes.
I couldn’t wait to start calling myself a princess, but it was a secret for fear that I might be calling myself what I am not, like an impersonator. I remember when I was in school and would proudly tell my friends that I was a princess. They will laugh and ask, "The princess of which kingdom?" I tried explaining to them that my father was to be the next king, if not for his father, who stopped him. So, I am a princess since the one who later became the king comes from our lineage. I kept using that word to assure myself.
When I joined Steemit in 2016, I didn't consider any other username but Princessbusayo, and that has been the name I have used on every platform I have joined, including here on Hive. I am always proud to be called Princessbusayo anywhere, as that always makes me feel good.
It was later in life that I realised those words from my father about being a princess, irrespective of who I am, and not only attached to kingship. I didn’t know my identity in Christ, not until I discovered that I am a Princess of the Most High and my Father is the Almighty King.
Since then, I have never regretted using the name anywhere, and I have been popular with it. I don’t think there is anyone who does not recognise me as Princessbusayo even on non-existent platforms. There was a time a user messaged me on Discord and said she was surprised to see me on Hive and knew it was me because we were together on a writing platform years ago, and her mind didn’t deceive her. That made me love my username and has been my unique name everywhere I am. So, I wouldn’t think of changing it because it’s a part of who I am - my identity.
Image Source: Chatgpt
