Mzansi QUIZ: 10 Questions every South African must be able to answer, Meet the naked tribes of Nigeria where people wear leaves and little to nothing. Can be kept as a day name. This festival originated several centuries ago. The Ga-Dangbe, G-Dab, Ga-Dangme, or GaDangme are an ethnic group in Ghana, Togo and Benin. TRAVEL 11 Beautiful Croatian Names and What They Mean. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the enslaved people from modern day Ghana in the Caribbean were referred to as Coromantees. Site Index . [2][3] The Ga-Dangmes are one ethnic group that lives primarily in the Greater Accra of Ghana. Their original homeland is in Goshen city, Egypt. Just like any African culture, Ghanaian Females have names that are peculiar to them. All rights reserved. Ghanaian names (or personal names in Ghana) consist of several given names and surnames based on the language of ethnic groups in Ghana: including Akan, Mole-Dagombas, Ga, Ewe and Nzema.Frequently, children are given a "day name" which corresponds to the day in the week when they were born. The Akan supreme being, Onyame, has many other names. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a823e34963b6ce73133e328cc8611677" );document.getElementById("bf227d4ff4").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. A child that is born on a certain day is believed to have certain traits, which is reflected in their name. There are many ethnic groups in Ghana, West Africa. Ga-Adangbe tribe is one of the ethnic groups in Ghana with vibrant culture. Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe, Lydia Dedei Yawson Nee Tagoe and Elizabeth Korkoi Tagoe, "Jamestown: the heart of boxing in Ghana", "Special Reports | Path to adulthood in the divided world", Fair trade arts and crafts direct from African artisans, Statement on the Death of NEA National Heritage Fellow Yacub Addy | NEA, "Virgil Abloh Has Designs on High Culture", "Virgil Abloh Is on the 2018 Time 100 List", External Influences on Ga Society and Culture, The Bead Culture among the Krobo of Ghana, Diplomacy and Power Politics in Mid-Nineteenth Century Krobo. Euphemisms are very common, especially about events connected . Same goes for Akuorkor. King Jerry has a very hot banger that's so popular in all the Ga Communities. Required fields are marked *. Dangme is exclusively closer to the original GaDangme languages than the Ga language.[6]. This name means King, Prince, and fearless leader or Warrior. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Originally designed as a formal marriage training for mature women in their twenties,[10] Dipo has evolved into a pre-marital sexual purification[11] rite that involves teenage girls conducting traditional religious rituals and putting on dance performances for the public. Many families spend excessive amounts on coffins because they often feel that they have to pay their last respects to the deceased and being buried in a coffin of cultural, symbolic as well as expensive taste is seen as fitting. The West African nation of Ghana has a culture that is a blend of the cultures of the various ethnic groups residing in the country. Kwasi (male) Akosua (female) the day on which KWA(the Creator) descended. The name for boys born on a Sunday is Kwasi. The Ga and Dangbe people are grouped respectively as part of the GaDangme ethnolinguistic group. AKWELEY AND AKUOKOR. Thats why we have Nii and Naa., he expounded. Adwoa (Ghanaian origin) means "one born on a Monday". Fofo is the name given to every fifth female child . About 70% of the Greater Accra Regional Land is owned by the Dangmes located in Dangme East and Dangme West Districts of Ghana. The Ga-Adangbe or Ga Adangme people are usually grouped as part of the Ga-Dangme ethnolinguistic groups of Ghana, Benin, and Togo. Therefore, names like Ama, Amate, Amakai, Amatei, Amalai, Amakwei, Amalei, Boi, Laryea are male names and Amele, Ahine, Amokor, Amateokor, Amakai, Amatekai, Amatso, Amatetso are female names associated with the Ama/ Amarh family name" [ [4] ]. Yaa One who is born on Thursday Ejo A girl born on Monday. Many Ghanaian names are from African origin and Akan names, and other from other ethnic groups. 34. Kwame (male) Amma (female) Gods Rest Day.. Although its a very old tradition, the concept was reworked during colonial times to suit the western calendar. Is one of the sweetest female day names in Ghana. At the durbar, greetings are exchanged between the chiefs, libations are poured and declarations of allegiance are made. The names are given in the following order: Hadithi Africa is a contemporary educative platform that promotes and showcases the African narrative. Now every first born child has it own name, so as the second child , third child , forth child and it goes on and on. The Ga people celebrate the Homowo festival, which literally means "hooting at hunger". Abena Pronounced: ah-be-nah Meaning: Born on a Thursday Best For: Female 2. Females born on Sunday are known to be leaders in society. Short and adorable nicknames for your little one or close ones named Hannah. It is an expression of the numerous thoughts and the endless conversations I have with the community I have nurtured in my head. We take you into this culture and show you as well your Ghanaian name! So for easy identification one must be called Atswei-foi, so that anyone who hears it will know the man already has a first female child already. If, for example, a couple has a desired a child after a long time, the name Nhyira , which means Gods blessing, is not uncommon. Joseph Oscar Mettle, the only Gospel Artist to have won the prestigious VGMAs overall Artiste of the Year, has become a household name when it comes to Gospel music in Ghana. 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Initiates are partially nude throughout much of the ritual. Name your baby after an African God or Goddess and wish them prosperity and wisdom for life. Retrieved 8 January 2017. Manu (the second, male) / Maanu (the second, female), Mensa (the third, male) / Mansa (the third, female) or. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. The oral tradition, recorded by N. A. Azu, is that the people migrated from "Same, an island situated south-west of River Ogun", which may in reality have been a kingdom in Nigeria. Nii Funny. Apparently, this family were smiths by trade and had an excellent reputation. The Ankrah family currently has its seat in the Gbese quarter of the Ga Mashie. It is of Akan origin and undoubtedly one of the most popular Ghanaian surnames, as 1 in 112 people bear the name. The Irish and Scottish form of Katherine is a unique choice and has a very pretty ring to it. One story of the origin as cited on Ghanaweb claims that a member of the family was named wankara; abbreviated to ankra, because the fellow never bids goodbye or gives notice when leaving and this is why his twi-speaking neighbours tagged him with the phrase wan kra /ankra (did not bid farewell) which over time become the adopted name of that family [[3]]. Caitrona. They are very inquisitive and tend to be pulled into a thing of interest. Ghanaians amongst themselves also do that but as a way to joke around or give each other nicknames. It is not unusual for a single coffin to cost $600. Ansan stands for Guinea Fowl, the bird which is obviously displayed in a color-blocking pattern on the fabric. Pigments: A series Exploring the Art of Body-Painting in Africa. 35. Other related names are Daku (Darko), Ankrah, Dodoo, Nsaki (Sakyi/Sackey), which are borrowed from Twi phrases of the Akwamu origin [6]. This is why Akan societies observe Saturday as the Sabbath. Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wife's money. Middle names have considerably more variety and can refer to their birth order, twin status, or an ancestor's middle name. The Akan system uses the Kwa language, one of the main Ghanaian languages. In addition, it is not unusual to put another name before the weekday name: This then describes the situation in which a child was born. Opera News does not consent to nor does it condone the posting of any content that violates the rights (including the copyrights) of any third party, nor content that may malign, inter alia, any religion, ethnic group, organization, gender, company, or individual. Dangme is the language that is most used in the Greater Accra Plains. You can learn more of their names by visiting any Ga community. Monday - Kojo (male), Adjoa (female) Tuesday - Kwabena (male), Abena (female) Wednesday - Kwaku (male), Akua (female) Thursday - Yaw (male), Yaa (female) Friday - Kofi (male), Afua (female) Take for example Ghanas first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who was born on a Saturday, while the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Atta Annan, was so named for being born on a Friday. These names have remained an integral part of Ghanaian culture and heritage. You'll love these names if you adore the classy, bygone era. Bediako. Even the biggest personalities in Ghana have more than one name. Examples are: Sumina (incinerator), Odonko (marked face). Kwa is used as a form of time keeping. The 29-year-old popular Ghanaian-British fashion model Adwoa Caitlin Maria Aboah is Monday-born. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Over the years Ghanaian female artists haven't been accorded the attention and value for their works. So when you hear a female Ga girl called AKWELEY it means she is a twin. Kwaku (mae) Akua (female) According to the book of Genesis, was the day on which the heavenly hots (sun, moon and stars) appeared. After Kaa comes Tsotsoo. And what if they are twins? Ajoba (Ghanaian origin) means "one who is born on Monday". Forenames. Whenever you hear of Fofo it means she is the fifth child of her parent. The Akan is the biggest ethnic community representing 47.5% of Ghana's population. Most Ghanaians have at least one name from this system, even if they also have an Arabic or western name. The coffins can be anything wanted by relatives of the deceased from a pencil to an elephant. The fishing community of Bukom on the outskirts of Accra, is considered as the mecca of boxing in Ghana and has produced several notable boxers. Today, figural coffins are made in several workshops in Togo and Greater Accra. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Ghana Baby Names & Meaning Names Gender Numerology Audio Save Name Comment Aba Ababuo Abam Abba Abeeku Abeeku Abena Abla Addae Addae Adeben Adika Adika Adjoa Adofo Adom Adowa Adusa Adwoa Afafa Afi Afia Afryea Afua Agyei Get to know Africa by Country. List [ edit] Kosi/Akwasi/Kwasi/Kwesi/Sisi a boy born on Sunday Akosua/Esi/Asi a girl born on Sunday . The naming system of the Akan people is as distinct as that which elders in Togo (the Ewe people), the Ga people, Benin (the Fon people), and the African diaspora pass on to toddlers. Government of Ghana. Some of the other sources I have used for this article are Kweku Darko Ankrahs article on A Look at the Ga Mantse and Gbese Stool Family Lines, Ga Naming Pattern on Ghanaweb and What You Didn't Know About Ga Names And Their Sabla by Naa Oyoo Quartey; Like other ethnic groups in Ghana, newborn Ga babies are given names with peculiar patterns and meanings, which may include the day of birth. Every third female child is called Kaa. According researcher and author Priscilla Akua Boakye, "[Dipo] was a form of vocational training for young women in which they were taught generally how to assume their roles as responsible women." Thema Pronounced: The-mah Meaning: Queen Best For: Female 5. However, the different Ghanaian ethnic groups largely share one common belief: the naming of their children. Adding, "We have our traditional names, Nortey, Naaku, Ashorkor, Shorme, so we fall in that line, that is the Naadu Levitical names." "Before a child is born, if the father is Nortey, and she. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Coffins are usually crafted to reflect an essence of the deceased in forms such as a character trait, an occupation, or a symbol of one's standing in the community. Some of these changes came about by their interactions with other ethnic groups, such as the Akans, whereas others came through commerce. So, what if several siblings are born on the same day of the week? Women, however, mostly get flattering nicknames like Lul (diamond), Macanay (sweet), Cod Weyne (rich voiced), Dahable (golden) and Indho Daraleey (gazelle eyes). Afreyea (Ghanaian origin ) meaning "born during good times". Kojo or Kodwo is the name of an Alata quarter stool holder of the Osu settlement. Lineage members generally return to the traditional lineage home from the Huza farms several times a year to participate in the festivals of their lineage gods. KWAME / AMMA: both mean Lord of Lifes Satisfaction Day, names that commemorate the institution of rest. Family names. It is mainly a food festival which celebrates the passing of that terrible period in the history of the Ga people. Men of the lineage live together in a men's compound, while women, even after marriage, live with their mothers and children in a women's compound. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Furthermore, the Akan have names for the order in which children are born. The family name of this people starts with a man and his wife; with the Ama or Amarh line. These names include: Days of the week in English Dabisa (Days . Chief Priest of Osu Nadu/ Klottey, Wor-Lumor Nuumo Noi Sekanku Kpenuku II, Meet Bright Hodzor; the man who paints the Jubilee House People & Places, 'I am an SHS graduate but I teach people from the university' - The Celebrity Painter, People & Places: Amazing discoveries on Ghanas only canopy walkway with a waterfall view, Next on People & Places: Touring this magical canopy walkway in Ghana, Residents of Juapong threaten to block train passage if overpass is not built. We wanted to share a few (and maybe you get inspired and name your next child with an Akan name! It is celebrated in remembrance of a great famine that hit the Ga people. Their calendar has 7 days in a week and Sunday is considered the first day of the week (It is believed in Akan that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day). It is a common saying, that all Gas are either Nii (for the males) or Naa (for the females). Photo: @moneyandstamp. [8], Linguistically, the Ga-Dangbe speak the Kwa languages Ga and Dangme and are a patrilineal people. Each town had a stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. Nii Funny specialize in 'jama' kind of music and that was what gave him his first hit song, 'Broken Heart.,' a song produced by Spanky. 6. Tawia is the name given to the child born after twins. Like most other names, the Kpakpa name is a borrowed name from papa, an Akan word for good and strong. These are aligned to the ethnic Ga as well: Lomotey, Tetteh, Ankrah, Tetteyfio, Laryea, Ayitey, Okai, Bortey, Quaye, Quaynor, Ashong, Kotei, Sowah, Odoi, Ablor, Adjetey, Dodoo, Darku and Quartey. The Akan kanguage has some beautiful names with meanings. 1. Most of the Ghanaian names have their foundation from the ethnic akan names. View. This is also a time for male rites of passage, when young men are introduced to warfare. With a smothering of salad cream on top of course. Every second female child is Ayokor. They were also the guards of the occupants of the Asere stool. Choose the best name for your child . Scottish last names have diverse origins that are distinguishable among the surnames. Meet Dr. Esther Mahlangu one of South Africas most famous artists. Same goes for Akuorkor. [7] The Ga people were originally farmers, but today fishing and trading in imported goods are the principal occupations. All the countries of Africa. Some of these names indicate Onyame's most worthy attributes, such as Amosu (Giver of Rain), Amowia (Giver of the Sun), and Amaomee (Giver of Plenitude). Performance & security by Cloudflare. Therefore, special coffins are often crafted by highly skilled carpenters since this tradition spread in the 1950s. In 2015, he was nominated at the prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. Christabel. These are mainly in the Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Districts of the Eastern Region. The Ghanaian Tradition of Day Names and Everything You Need to Know About it, Image source - https://www.frazerconsultants.com/2018/11/carpenters-in-ghana-make-customized-caskets/, Enter your email to receive news and updates on the latest African narratives, Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Umemulo, the beautiful Zulu ceremony which signals a girl is ready for marriage, Meet the Hadza people of Tanzania and why they do not worry about shelter or food, Niksat: the Ethiopian tattoo tradition past and present, South Africa safaris for first-timers: 8 things to know before you book, Seven interesting facts you didnt know about Eritrea. English is the official language of Ghana. (See Naming customs of the Dagomba people.). The action you just performed triggered the security solution. After Atswei comes Ayokor. It is the home of many famous boxing "clubs" and gymnasiums. Children are considered to be a gift from God in Ghana. 2. Frequently, children are given a "day name" which corresponds to the day in the week when they were born. The following are names derived from the ethnic Dangme and common among the Ningos Nartey, Tetteh, Kwei, Kweinor, Kwetey, Narteh, Narh, Dugbatey, Teye, Martey, Addo, Siaw, Saki, Amanor, Djangba. However, the naming ceremony is not where the day name is given, its where their actual name is given. The Ashante are part of the Akan tribes who speak various dialects of Twi. The language is very rich in proverbs, the use of which is taken to be a sign of wisdom. Apparently, the name Ankrah comes from Ayi. 3. [8], The Ga-Dangme are organized into clans based on patrilineal descent; the clans are subdivided into localized patrilineages, the basic units of the Ga-Dangme historical, political, cultural tribal group. Dangme is the most widespread language of the region, Ga being confined to the coastal towns around Accra and Tema. Millet was formerly the staple food, but more common crops now include cassava, yams, corn (maize), plantain, cocoa, and palm oil. What day of the week were you born? This system of names have spread to some other West African countries. She also specializes in baby names. Such beautiful Ghana girl names are suitable for a sweet-tempered child. Akwele is a Girl name, meaning Creativity, curiosity, charm, friendliness in Ghana origin. See More, Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. Search 30 million given names. Ghana, country of western Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. This is why families do everything they can to ensure that a dead person is sympathetic towards them as early as possible. In Ghana, there are different cultures, languages, and people.
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