Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hasan Minhaj celebrate their many names

Today WhatsApp presents “The Game of Adetokunbo,” an original comedic digital short starring basketball superstar and WhatsApp brand partner Giannis Antetokounmpo, and two-time Peabody Award-winning actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj. 

Released today, “The Game of Adetokunbo” brings the unlikely duo together for a game of HORSE, a space that allows them to bond over the power behind their given names and dual+-cultured identities. The short is available to view now on YouTube and Instagram. 

The short shows Minhaj, a self-proclaimed basketball fanatic and player in the 2023 All-Star Celebrity Game, meeting Antetokounmpo for a game of HORSE, but suggests a twist: the word be replaced with Giannis’ lesser-known Yoruba name, ADETOKUNBO. As dual+ cultured individuals from immigrant backgrounds, the game provokes banter and authentic dialogue around their complicated yet parallel experiences with their given names. 

The result exemplifies WhatsApp’s narrative “There’s No One Like Us,” a universal call for the platform’s 2 billion users around the world to embrace the many cultures that make them unique. As a secure, global platform, WhatsApp helps connect everyone to those closest to them, and thus, all aspects of their cultures.  

Giannis Antetokounmpo said: “Most people don’t know that Giannis is not my only first name. Ugo is my Nigerian name, and its actually the only name my closest friends and family use on our private WhatsApp chats. I know that many, like Hasan and I, have similar relationships with their names, and we’re proud to bring to light this real story about culture that billions of people around the world can relate to.” 

Hasan Minhaj said: “One of my greatest joys is working on projects that celebrate my heritage and culture. I’m thrilled to partner with WhatsApp and Giannis on this special project that we hope will inspire others to celebrate all our names and identities.”  

Vivian Odior, Global head of marketing at WhatsApp said: “WhatsApp is the tissue between its billions of users and the people that make them who they are. Through these connections, all parts of their identity - such as their names - are represented in our app as they build meaningful relationships with those who matter most. ‘There’s no one like us’ is our rallying cry for users to embrace the multiplicity of their cultures. We’re proud to tap into Giannis and Hasan’s personal conversation about the embrace of their names and experiences that many around the world can relate to." 

“The Game of Adetokunbo” is the latest in an ongoing partnership with Antetokounmpo, the first ever brand partner of WhatsApp and Meta. In September 2022, WhatsApp & Antetokounmpo released Naija Odyssey, Meta’s first original entertainment project, on Prime Video and YouTube. The epic, four-chapter short film that explores the importance of international connectivity through the lens of the Greek and Nigerian basketball prodigy. 

 

 

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