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Re[2]: SHEHU, IS YOUR LAST NAME USMAN?

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W. Azeez

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Dec 17, 1996, 3:00:00 AM12/17/96
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Alex Dan'Iyan wrote, in part, the following:


>Dear Bro. Fred,
>
> I m not trying to take sides or anything, but I feel there is an error
>both you and Kayode are making in your reference to Shehu "Usman"
>changing his name to Shehu Othman to be like Othman dan Fodio.
>
>Othman dan Fodio is just one version of spelling the name, other
>versions (widely used versions at that) are:
>
>Shehu Usman dan Fodio
>Shehu Uthman dan Fodio
>
>

I was tempted to point this out too. But since I was already in one hot
water, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic to get into another one. I quite
agree with your observation about the many variations of Usman.
It could be spelt as Usman, Uthman, Othman or even Osman. None of
the variations, to the best of my knowledge, gives a clue to one's
ethnic background.

For those with academic interest, none of the variations adequately
captures the correct Arabic pronounciation of the name. However, those
stating with "U" provide better representations than those starting with
"O"

Wemimo Azeez.

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