[7] The Ga people were originally farmers, but today fishing and trading in imported goods are the principal occupations. I hope you have enjoyed and learnt something new.. It commemorates the victories of the warriors in battle and is a memorial for those who fell on the battlefield. Frequently, children are given a "day name" which corresponds to the day in the week when they were born. This is also a time for male rites of passage, when young men are introduced to warfare. If you're on the hunt for a cute name for baby boys and girls. Scottish last names have diverse origins that are distinguishable among the surnames. Watch the full program here: Copyright 1994 - 2023 GhanaWeb. B Danquah created his myth linking the Akan to the ancient Ghana empire. List [ edit] Kosi/Akwasi/Kwasi/Kwesi/Sisi a boy born on Sunday Akosua/Esi/Asi a girl born on Sunday If you have any suggestions or other nicknames you would like to call your baby boy, let . Chale: Friend (Ga term) Chalewotey . Apparently, the name Ankrah comes from Ayi. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The language is very rich in proverbs, the use of which is taken to be a sign of wisdom. To re-enact these historic events, the warriors dress in traditional battle dress and stage a mock battle. Search 31 million family names. Ahemaa. Kra names. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0c4ba7ed6846d3 So when you hear a female Ga girl called AKWELEY it means she is a twin. The day naming system is a very old tradition used by the Akan people and even by other west African countries such as Benin and Togo. Furthermore, the Akan have names for the order in which children are born. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. With five albums to his credit including the recent 'Wind of Revival' album, Joe continues to realize great successes in putting Ghana gospel on the world . Moreover, the pronunciation of the word Ga is more similar to the word Ghana than the word Akan from which Dr. J. 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. Some have and continue to receive negative comments and criticism for their stagecraft. Ansan stands for Guinea Fowl, the bird which is obviously displayed in a color-blocking pattern on the fabric. Explore all African Countries. Every child has it own name relating to the day he or she was born. Find the complete details of Akwele name on BabyNamesCube, the most trusted source for baby name meaning, numerology, origins, similar names and more! Azaa: Dubious Babylon: England Boga: A Ghanaian living abroad, this word originated from the word Hamburger after residents of Hamburg, many of who are of Ghanaian origin. This name is from the Akan tribe and is one of the most popular surnames in Ghana. This culturally strong community in Spain has a treasure trove of beautiful names. Before the birth of a Ga child, one of their names is known irrespective of the day of birth because the order of birth and settlement into which they were born forms part of the Ga naming system. The social status of the deceased depends primarily on the size and the success of the burial service and of course the usage of an exclusive coffin. 2. These names have remained an integral part of Ghanaian culture and heritage. These are names given to two set of female twins. Kwasi (male) Akosua (female) the day on which KWA(the Creator) descended. Top & Most Popular Names & Nicknames. KOFI & AFUA: both mean Lord of Life Home and commemorate the creation of the first home in the Garden of Eden and the institution of marriage. These names arent only found in Ghana as some of these tribes spill over to other west African countries. 10 Female Contemporary Artists From India To Know. Yao (male) Yaa (female) the day on which various life forms (plants, animals, etc ) were created. In addition, they are each adorned with custom-made glass beads, colorful loincloths, and various forms of woven headgear. Click to reveal So, what if several siblings are born on the same day of the week? These day names have further meanings concerning the soul and character of the person. According to Wikipedia, It is the fourth most common surname in Ghana. Ghanaians amongst themselves also do that but as a way to joke around or give each other nicknames. The Akan people use the Kwa language groups system of timekeeping, which is based on a six-day week (nnanson), with the seventh day inclusive. Millet was formerly the staple food, but more common crops now include cassava, yams, corn (maize), plantain, cocoa, and palm oil. In Ghana, the most common names throughout the different tribes centre either on the day a child was born or using tribal names that are more unique in flavour. Frequently, children are given a "day name" which corresponds to the day in the week when they were born. Popular coffinmakers are, for example, Cedi and Eric Adjetey Anang of Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop, Paa Joe, Daniel Mensah and Kudjoe Affutu. As such, a male child born on Wednesday is named 'Kwaku' while the female is 'Akua'. 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. The Ga ethnic group is divided into settlements which are further divided into quarters which Ga people call akutso (singular) and akutsei (plural) [[2]]. This is why families do everything they can to ensure that a dead person is sympathetic towards them as early as possible. The following two tabs change content below. Its varying colors and bold print renders it versatile and confident. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood. titled Adukwei. Therefore, special coffins are often crafted by highly skilled carpenters since this tradition spread in the 1950s. The coffins can be anything wanted by relatives of the deceased from a pencil to an elephant. Ga-Adangbe tribe is one of the ethnic groups in Ghana with vibrant culture. Examples of Ghanaian day names (mainly in the southern part), Examples of Ghanaian day names (mainly in the northern part), Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ghanaian_name&oldid=1149118337, Articles lacking in-text citations from September 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Akwasi, Kwasi, Kwesi, Akwesi, Sisi, Kacely, Koshi, Kosi, Kosiwa, Kosiwa, Kwasiwa, Kwasia, Akosua, Akasi, Akos, Esi, Awesi, Awan, Kofi, Cofi, Kojo, Kwadwo, Jojo, Joojo, Kujoe, Kwadzo, Kodzo, Kobla, Kwabena, Ebo, Komla, Kwabla, Kabenla, Kobe, Kobi, Kobby, Kobina, Abla, Abena, Abenayo, Abenkwan, Ablamaa, Araba, Kaku, Kwaku, Abeiku, Kuuku, Kweku, Keku, Koku, Akuba, Akua, Aku, Kukua, Akuma, Akusea, Ekua, Kwame, Kwami, Kwafica, Kwamina/Kwamena, Komi, Ato, This page was last edited on 10 April 2023, at 09:12. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}53516N 00559W / 5.5877N 0.0996W / 5.5877; -0.0996. KWAME / AMMA: both mean Lord of Lifes Satisfaction Day, names that commemorate the institution of rest. Middle names have considerably more variety and can refer to their birth order, twin status, or an ancestor's middle name. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 7. Over time, the Akan have defined seven names per gender, each referring to a day of the week. It is a prevalent name in all tribes in Ghana. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern . The name Ankrah is traced to the Otublohum family of Otoo street in what was then known as Dutch Accra. In many parts of Ghana, and elsewhere in West Africa, a person's name is determined by the day of the week on which she/he was born. Hebrew - Wished for child; Sea of bitterness; To Swell; A variant form of Marilyn; As Mary; Hebrew - Sea of Bitternes; Rebelliousness; Wished for child; To swell; A variant form of Mary, From the Irish word 'treasach', meaning fighter, higher, more powerful or superior. Today, figural coffins are made in several workshops in Togo and Greater Accra. play videoChief Priest of Osu Nadu/ Klottey, Wor-Lumor Nuumo Noi Sekanku Kpenuku II. It is an expression of the numerous thoughts and the endless conversations I have with the community I have nurtured in my head. This is because the word Friday is a combination of two words in Aka which are Fi (meaning home) and Da (meaning day). Other related names are Daku (Darko), Ankrah, Dodoo, Nsaki (Sakyi/Sackey), which are borrowed from Twi phrases of the Akwamu origin [6]. The 29-year-old popular Ghanaian-British fashion model Adwoa Caitlin Maria Aboah is Monday-born. Prices of coffins can vary depending on what is being ordered. Slaves from the Gold Coast taken to the Caribbean during the 18th and 19th centuries were referred to as Coromantees: an English-language term for enslaved people from the Akan ethnic group from the Gold Coast region in modern-day Ghana. If, for example, a couple has a desired a child after a long time, the name Nhyira , which means Gods blessing, is not uncommon. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Examples are: Sumina (incinerator), Odonko (marked face). If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address operanews-external(at)opera.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform Content created and supplied by: AdroitNaa (via Opera Music of the Ga-Dangbe people also include [Klama], [Kpatsa] and the Dipo dance all of the Krobo people. . In the Agotime Area of Volta Region and the Dangme Area in the Southern part of Togo. 3. "The family name of this people starts with a man and his wife; with the Ama or Amarh line. Thus there are different additional names: For example, a Nyambura was born during the rainy season or an Abionakam was born on the way (along the way). According to this ethnic group, the names are based on the day of the week the child was born. Not a problem, then simply numerical or sequential words are integrated into the name: Annan Kwame, for example, would be the fourth son born on a Saturday. Most Ghanaians define the beauty of a woman to be a woman who is well brought up, cultured, we. One of their traditional music and dance styles (albeit a fairly modern one) is kpanlogo, a modernized traditional dance and music form developed around 1960. Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. 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. Here is a list of the names: Nyankomago - The second child after twins . Fofo is the name given to every fifth female child . Below are some common Ga names and their origins and evolution over time. Kwa is used as a form of time keeping. The Ga people are known for their funeral celebrations and processions. The 27-year-old, who calls himself Kweiku, is . They believe that death is not the end and that life continues in the next world in the same way it did on earth. Most Ghanans have a name using this system (think Kofi Annan, whose name means born on a Friday). The naming of a child by Dagombas in Northern Ghana usually happens on the 8th day after birth. Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. You can learn more of their names by visiting any Ga community. This system of names have spread to some other West African countries. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing ar more. Get to know Africa by Country. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. Women, however, mostly get flattering nicknames like Lul (diamond), Macanay (sweet), Cod Weyne (rich voiced), Dahable (golden) and Indho Daraleey (gazelle eyes). The Ga believe that when someone dies, they move to another life. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The tradition goes back to the Akan tribe: to name their children by the day of their birth. The Nunu, Nunoo and Anum names can be traced to the Abola akutso of the Ga Mashie settlement, which can, in turn, be traced to the Abora Fantes. Ghanaian baby names are frequently given after the day of the week the baby was born and the order in which the baby was born. Retrieved 8 January 2017. The different names of the immortal Lord Hanuman reflect his glory and power. Originally this wasnt a name belonging to the family. [5] Among the Ga tribes one or two of the following are given to children, viz. [4] It is also believed that by the 17th century they traveled down the River Niger and crossed the Volta to reach present day Ghana. Ajoba (Ghanaian origin) means "one who is born on Monday". Meet Dr. Esther Mahlangu one of South Africas most famous artists. Lastly, Ghanaians do love it when someone has the same day name as them its a fun commonality and a great conversation starter and one of the best ways to immerse fully in the Ghanaian lifestyle! ETHNONYMS: Ga-Adangme, Adangbe Orientation Identification and Location. Adiyiah. This festival originated several centuries ago. The use of these fantasy coffins is explained by the religious beliefs of the Ga people regarding their afterlife. By this time, the umbilical cord of the child should have fallen off. The Ga-Adangbe consist of the people living in Osu, La, Krobo, Shai among other places in the Greater Accra Region. Cuts are made on the faces of such children. The family name of this people starts with a man and his wife; with the Ama or Amarh line. ): When walking through the street you may be called out by a local with any of the day names (Akosua and Adwoa being the most popular ones). If you had the chance to meet a few Ghanaians, you may have noticed that they have more than one name. It is a common saying, that all Gas are either Nii (for the males) or Naa (for the females). There are also many annual festivals. The Ga-Adangbe or Ga Adangme people are usually grouped as part of the Ga-Dangme ethnolinguistic groups of Ghana, Benin, and Togo. A first born can be recognized by the first name Piesie . Choose the best name for your child . 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.
