7 most interesting ways Africans name their children

Alice Otchere Johnson July 12, 2018

7 most interesting ways Africans name their children

Season or time of day

Among ethnic groups in Southern and Eastern Africa, children are named according to the time of day they were born, such as “Kibet” for day or “Kiplagat” for night in Kenya. The Luos of Western Kenya, Northern Uganda and Mara region in Northern Tanzania are very specific with naming by a time of day.

“Omondi” is the name given to boys born at dawn, “Okinyi” for morning and “Onyango” for mid-morning. “Ochieng” is for sunny midday, “Otieno” for night and “Oduor” for midnight. Girls are given the same names but starting with an ‘A’ rather than an ‘O’. “Mumbua” and “Wambua” mean rainy season among the Kamba of Kenya and is a name given to boys and girls born in that season.

Last Edited by:Ismail Akwei Updated: July 12, 2018

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