If you looked back at the byline for this article, you would notice that the name on it isn’t a common one, even for most Ghanaians. There is a reason an entire educative piece was dedicated to explaining the name to people, and more so, to help people differentiate between it and the commonly misplaced Nigerian version, Uche.
Traditional names across the length and breadth of the motherland will forever remain a unique pride. As a matter of fact, a person’s name plays a significant role in the identification of where in the continent he/she comes from, the day he/she was born and even goes further to predict what the said person’s future could be like.
Unfortunately, from forced slavery to Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas, many of our forefathers lost their identities as a result of being forcefully stripped of their traditional names and given “westernized” ones by their white owners.
For many still, they are striving to trace their roots back to Africa through technologically-advanced ways such as through DNA tests.
Just in case you’ve managed to trace your ancestry to West or East Africa and you’re looking at taking an African name that befits you, here are a few original African names with their meanings and origins.
ZAWADI is a Swahili name that means “gift.”
THABO is a male and female African name. It is short for “Lethabo” that means “Happiness” or “Joy”.
ELI is a unisex Ghanaian name that means “God lives.”
ZANE is Swahili for a person who is “well-born, noble.”
JAMILA means “beautiful.” Its origin is Arabic.
EWOENAM means “He(God) has done it for me.” It is a name from the Ewe tribe of Ghana.
ABIMBOLA is a unisex Nigerian name which means “born wealthy” in the Yoruba language.
ADJATAY is a male Cameroonian name which means “Prince”.
KOJO is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Monday in the Akan tradition.
ADWOA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Monday in the Akan tradition.
CHIKA is a Nigerian name which means “God is the greatest” in the Igbo language.
KWABENA is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Tuesday in the Akan tradition.
ABENA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Tuesday in the Akan tradition.
KOFI is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Friday in the Akan tradition.
AFUA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Friday in the Akan tradition.
KWESI is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Sunday in the Akan tradition.
AKOSUA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Sunday in the Akan tradition.
IDRISSA is a male Senegalese name meaning “immortal.”
ADAEZE is a female Igbo name from Nigeria which means “king’s daughter”.
KWAME is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Saturday in the Akan tradition.
AMA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Saturday in the Akan tradition.
AKUCHI is a unisex Nigerian name which means “wealth from God” in the Igbo language.
ADETOKUNBO is a unisex Nigerian name which means “the crown came from over the sea” in the Yoruba language.
MAWULI is a unisex Ghanaian name which means “God lives” in the Ewe language.
SIMISOLA is a female Nigerian name which means “rest in wealth” in the Yoruba language.
OLAMIDE is a male Nigerian name which means “my wealth has arrived” in the Yoruba language.
AMA is a female Ghanaian name given to those born on Saturday in the Akan tradition.
IME is a Nigerian name which means “patience” in the Ibibio language.
KWAKU is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Wednesday in the Akan tradition.
AKUA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Wednesday in the Akan tradition.
ADISA is a male Nigerian name which means “one who is clear” in the Yoruba language.
BOSEDE is a female Nigerian name given to those born on Sunday in the Yoruba language.
CHIZOBA is a Nigerian name which means “God protect us” in the Igbo language.
YAW is a male Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Thursday in the Akan tradition.
YAA is a female Ghanaian name which is given to those born on Thursday in the Akan tradition.
CHUKWUEMEKA is a Nigerian name which means “God has done something great” in the Igbo language.
TEMITOPE is a female Nigerian name which means “enough to give thanks” in the Yoruba language.
AMEWUSIKA is a Ghanaian name which means “people are more valuable than material things” in the Ewe language.
