Audio Name Pronunciation

Waka T. Brown |

A recording introducing and pronouncing Waka T. Brown.

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Waka T. Brown: My name is pronounced Waka T Brown. My first name, Waka, is the word for a type of Japanese poem. Many of you might be familiar with a haiku, which is five syllables for the first line, seven for the next, and then five syllables for the last line. Although there are different types, waka are usually 31-syllable poems arranged in five lines of five, seven, five, seven, and then seven syllables for the last line.

When I was growing up in Kansas, I didn't particularly like my name because kids would tease me.
They'd say things like, "Waka, Waka, Waka, Fozzie Bear," or they'd ask if I played a lot of Pacman since "waka, waka, waka" was the noise he'd make as he made his way through the maze. When I went into souvenir shops, I never bothered looking for key chains or necklaces that had my name on them. Now, I rather like it though, because it's unique, especially in the US but also in Japan. When I hear someone calling for Waka, I know they're calling for me.