Malaika Tenshi talking dropping her last name

The 34-year-old is no longer called Malaika Nyanzi. She prefers instead, to be mononymous -- going only by her first name Malaika.

“It is just like you have Azawi or Vinka or Beyonce,” she explained.

Her official name though is, Malaika Tenshi Tendo.

“That’s for when you are writing me a cheque or giving me a contract,” she told Ruth Kalibbala Bwanika in an interview.

Malaika Tenshi pulse uganda

Dad's name

The name Nyanzi, the actress says, is her father's.

She chose to drop it as a way of honouring his achievements.

“He is a big and powerful man who has worked hard for his name. I decided to leave him with his name not to ruin it,” she said.

Stella Nyanzi

The other reason for changing the name, Malaika says, was because she was getting confused with the famous rights activist Dr Stella Nyanzi.

Actress Tenshi pulse uganda

“Some people would call me Stella…I have nothing against her but I decided to drop the name," she explained, adding that she has no blood relation with the outspoken activist and lecturer.

Besides, she believes her first name Malaika is powerful on its own.

Born in Kenya to Ugandan parents, Maliaka is mostly known for her radio work on the D’Mighty Breakfast show on KFM and Malaika and Oulanya on Capital FM.

She has also featured in a number of local films and TV shows including Veronica’s Wish, Bed of Thorns and The Honourablez.