Names from Africa: Their Origin, Meaning, and Pronunciation"The giving of names is of great importance in Africa. People are named after events, happenings, great things, the days of the week, or the order in which they were born. For example, if a couple had long wanted a son, in Nigeria they may call him "Ayinde" (Yoruba), meaning the one we prayed for. In Ghana, if a boy is born on Saturday he is called "Kwame" (Akan). In Tanzania, the second born of twins will be called "Doto" (Zaramo). People have asked me whether names like James, Gary, or Francis could be translated into African form. There is no direct translation from English names to African, but if we go back to the original meaning of an English name, we can often find an African equivalent. For example, the English Theodore and the Ibo "Okechuku" both mean "God's gift."--From preface. |
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Names from Africa: Their Origin, Meaning, and Pronunciation Ogonna Chuks-orji No preview available - 1972 |
Names from Africa: Their Origin, Meaning, and Pronunciation Ogonna Chuks-orji No preview available - 1972 |
Common terms and phrases
abiso name Africa Arabic Africa Ibo Africa Name Pronunciation Africa Ngoni Africa Swahili Africa Xhosa Africa Yao Africa Yoruba African names baby birth born after twins born Akan born on Friday born on Saturday born on Sunday born on Thursday Botswana child born Country Nyakyusa Country Yoruba crown elder of twins father Ghana Akan Ghana Ewe Ghana Ngoni Ghana Swahili Ghana Yoruba Hausa Hofstra University honor Yoruba house Yoruba JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY Jumoke Kenya Kikuyu Language and Country Lomwe Malawi Arabic Malawi Ngoni Malawi Nyakyusa Malawi Swahili Malawi Yao Malawi Yoruba mother Muhammad Muslim Mwera Name Pronunciation Meaning naming ceremony Ndebele Nguni Nigeria Arabic Nigeria Benin Nigeria Fante Nigeria Ibo Nigeria Name Pronunciation Nigeria Ngoni Nigeria Shona Nigeria Swahili Nigeria Yoruba Ogun oruko parents Pronunciation Meaning Language Rwanda second born Tanzania Arabic Tanzania Name Pronunciation Tanzania Nyakyusa Tanzania Swahili Tswana Yoruba language younger of twins Zaramo Zimbabwe Swahili Zulu