[2][3] The Ga-Dangmes are one ethnic group that lives primarily in the Greater Accra of Ghana. King Jerry has a very hot banger that's so popular in all the Ga Communities. IWD2021: 10 Ghanaian Female Artists Changing The Narrative Of Women In Surnames. The celebration reaches its climax with a durbar of chiefs, a colourful procession of the Chiefs in palanquins with their retinue. 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). Ghanaian Baby Names Ghanaian names are the names used in Ghana, West Africa. To re-enact these historic events, the warriors dress in traditional battle dress and stage a mock battle. They mainly live in the Greater Accra region. KWAME / AMMA: both mean Lord of Lifes Satisfaction Day, names that commemorate the institution of rest. This 'traditional' salad is eaten on its own or by the side of jollof . 130 Ghanaian Names for Boys and Girls - FirstCry Parenting Dangme is the language that is most used in the Greater Accra Plains. The Dangbe people from Odumase - Krobo also Celebrate the [Ngmayem] festival, An Annual Harvest festival to Celebrate the bounty harvest of their farmers is celebrated by the Krobo people throughout the last week (Seven days) of October with a visit to their famous Ancestral home, the Krobo Mountains [Kloyom] on the last Friday of October with a climax on the Saturday with a grand Durbar of Chiefs and People of the Krobo Traditional Area. Can be kept as a day name. 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. . Scottish last names have diverse origins that are distinguishable among the surnames. Notable fighters include former WBC champion, David Kotei aka DK Poison, Alfred Kotey, Joshua "The Hitter" Clottey, and former WBA Welterweight champion boxer Ike "Bazooka" Quartey, and former multi-weight class champion Azumah "Zoom Zoom" Nelson aka Prof.[9], For the Shai and Krobo people, the Dipo is the formal rite of passage. Other popular surnames in Ghana are Asare, Yeboah, Tetteh, Adjei, and Asante. What you may not know is that there is a well-established history behind this concept. Pick a name that reflects how your baby signifies hope and new beginnings in your life. It is the home of many famous boxing "clubs" and gymnasiums. AKOSUA means descent. In addition to music, the Ga-Dangbe people are known for their long history and successes in the sport of boxing. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern . If that grandmothers name is given to you, you have to revere the name. Prices of coffins can vary depending on what is being ordered. 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. Ghana | History, Flag, Map, Population, Language, Currency, & Facts Young Boy discusses encounters with Ga-Adangbes - (Spoken in Ga). The name Ankrah is traced to the Otublohum family of Otoo street in what was then known as Dutch Accra. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Content created and supplied by: AdroitNaa (via Opera The Akan system uses the Kwa language, one of the main Ghanaian languages. The 29-year-old popular Ghanaian-British fashion model Adwoa Caitlin Maria Aboah is Monday-born. It commemorates the victories of the warriors in battle and is a memorial for those who fell on the battlefield. Every second female child is Ayokor. [12] For example, a taxicab driver is most likely to be buried in a coffin shaped as a car. They may have merged with the Ewe migrants at . Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Name your baby after an African God or Goddess and wish them prosperity and wisdom for life. They are accompanied by traditional military groups called 'Asafo Companies' amidst drumming, singing and dancing through the streets and on the durbar grounds. Dangme occupations are fishing, trading and farming which is based on the Huza system. Thousands of AFRICAN NAMES for your dog, horse, cat, pet or child from If you want to impress a local, learn your day name because Ghanaians love it when you introduce yourself with your actual name, followed by your day name. Lets take a look into the Ghanaian day names tradition and their meaning. King Jerry. However, the major tribes in Ghana are Akan and Ewe which form about 60% of the population. At some point in Ghana's history, it was decided that the traditional salad in Ghana would consist of lettuce, tomato, onion, boiled eggs, tuna and baked beans. The Akan is the biggest ethnic community representing 47.5% of Ghana's population. Over the years Ghanaian female artists haven't been accorded the attention and value for their works. This is because the word Friday is a combination of two words in Aka which are Fi (meaning home) and Da (meaning day). 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. Meet the scammers: Could this be your online lover? - ABC News In 2015, he was nominated at the prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. We take you into this culture and show you as well your Ghanaian name! Female names can also be influenced by the days of the week, just like male names. Ghanaians amongst themselves also do that but as a way to joke around or give each other nicknames. Traditional names in Ghana vary by ethnic group. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The Culture Of Ghana - WorldAtlas The history behind 'Nii' and 'Naa' in Ga names - GhanaWeb Agbenyega: Life's greatest (g) Agbenyefia: King's life (b) Agbemav: Eternal life (u) Agbemafle: Life cannot be bought (b) Agbemabiase: The origin of life is not known (b) Agbeli: There is life (u) Agbeko: If only there were life (b) Agbe: Life (g) Afua: Given life on a Friday (g) Afryea: Born during happy times (g) Afelete: Established home (g) View. The naming of a child by Dagombas in Northern Ghana usually happens on the 8th day after birth. The most widely spoken local languages are, Ga, Dagomba, Akan and Ewe. Together with James Town, it is the place of origin of many people of the Ga ethnic group, which Gilbert and I belong to. Although relatively small in area and population, Ghana is one of the leading countries of Africa, partly because of its considerable natural wealth and partly because it was the first black African country south of the Sahara to achieve independence from colonial rule. As Gas, we should not forget the origins and meanings of our names and the names of our ancestors. Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. 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. 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. 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. 10 Female Contemporary Artists From India To Know. In the Agotime Area of Volta Region and the Dangme Area in the Southern part of Togo. 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. Get to know Africa by Country. Adwoa (Ghanaian origin) means "one born on a Monday". In this article, I look into the backgrounds, changes, corruptions and evolutions of some names associated with the Ga ethnic group of Accra. To complicate matters, the ancient A God given child who is very great. Examples are: Sumina (incinerator), Odonko (marked face). If you had the chance to meet a few Ghanaians, you may have noticed that they have more than one name. The song, produced by Nii Quaye, is performed in her local Ga dialect, was recorded ahead of the 2019 edition of the Homowo festival . 12 Traditions and Customs Only Ghanaians Can Understand Here are examples: Order of Birth Male Name Female Name. This naming after the days of the week has a much deeper meaning, because the day on which a person was born has about the similar significance as in the western hemisphere the assignment to a sign of the zodiac. The Dangme people occupy the coastal area of Ghana from Kpone to Ada, on the Volta River and South Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf of Guinea and inland along the Volta River. Kwa is used as a form of time keeping. Ga- names are used more often as masculine names. Yen.com.gh recently reported about the Ga-adangbe tribe which is also known as Ga-Dangme, GaDangme, Ga-Adampa, Ga-Adangme or Ga-Danmel. Boga: A Ghanaian living abroad, this word originated from the word Hamburger after residents of Hamburg, many of who are of Ghanaian origin. Other related names are Daku (Darko), Ankrah, Dodoo, Nsaki (Sakyi/Sackey), which are borrowed from Twi phrases of the Akwamu origin [6]. The Ga-Dangbe, G-Dab, Ga-Dangme, or GaDangme are an ethnic group in Ghana, Togo and Benin. Ghanaian names : List of Ghanaian names and their meanings - 2021 So when you hear a female Ga girl called AKWELEY it means she is a twin. All rights reserved. The Ga people celebrate the Homowo festival, which literally means "hooting at hunger". Many coffin shapes also evoke proverbs, which are interpreted in different ways by the Ga. Design coffins have been used since around the 1950s, especially in rural Ga groups with traditional beliefs, and have now become an integral part of Ga burial culture. Read More Esi One who is born on Sunday. The following two tabs change content below. Like most other names, the Kpakpa name is a borrowed name from papa, an Akan word for good and strong. Inheritance of other property and succession to male-held public offices are by patrilineal descent. September Month Inspired Baby Names: 10 Interesting Facts You Should Know, Baby Names, Horoscope Traits & Qualities of Babies Born in June Month, Names, Horoscope, Traits & Qualities of Babies Born in April Month, Horoscope Traits, Qualities, and Facts about Babies Born in March : Babynamescube.com, Horoscope Traits, Qualities and Facts about Babies Born in February, January Baby Names: Top 50 Names Boys and Girls Born in January, 5 Interesting Facts about December Born Baby Names | Christmas Baby Names. According to this ethnic group, the names are based on the day of the week the child was born. However, Ghanaian names have an even deeper meaning. He was the founder of, Odartei Mills Lamptey, popularly known as, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 12:49. Some of these changes came about by their interactions with other ethnic groups, such as the Akans, whereas others came through commerce. Popular coffinmakers are, for example, Cedi and Eric Adjetey Anang of Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop, Paa Joe, Daniel Mensah and Kudjoe Affutu. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Apparently, the name Ankrah comes from Ayi. babynamescube.com 2023. Second, they may find it hard to pronounce your name at first (as you may find it hard to pronounce theirs), so it will save you both the trouble! The Dangme People include the Ada, Kpone, Krobo, Ningo, Osudoku, Prampram, and Shai, all speaking Dangbe of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. Oral traditions state the Ga came from the region of Lake Chad and reached their destination in the 16th century. the [Konor] who is the Paramount Chief sits in state as the overlord together with his sub-chiefs, Government officials, other traditional Authorities and Invited guests. Ghana Girl Names Click on alphabet for Ghana Baby Girl Names & Meaning. A postgraduate in Human Resources from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, she likes understanding An angel sent from heaven to spread peace and love, Old Welsh - White; Fair; Blessed; Holy; Smooth; Soft; A variant spelling is Jenifer, Hebrew - God Beholds; Foresight; God's Gift; God's Grace; A variant form is Jessi. [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. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. These are names given to two set of female twins. 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] ]. The 27-year-old, who calls himself Kweiku, is . Kofi (male) Afua (female) the day on which the first home was created or established. Basically, the Ga-Adangbe people live across the plains of Accra. Ama comes from the Asere quarters of Ga Mashie. The Ga believe that when someone dies, they move to another life. Popular baby names complete with meanings, origins and Even the biggest personalities in Ghana have more than one name. The Gas are referred to as people coming from the Greater Accra region in Ghana. Guan tribe: history, language, food, dance, festivals, facts The Ga-Adangbe consist of the people living in Osu, La, Krobo, Shai among other places in the Greater Accra Region. Females born on Sunday are known to be leaders in society. Ghanaian Baby Names 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. It is an expression of the numerous thoughts and the endless conversations I have with the community I have nurtured in my head. There are many ethnic groups in Ghana, West Africa. Its about giving newborn babies a special name based on the day of the week they are born. PDF Ga People and Homowo Festival Ashami is the name given to the sixth female child . Twin names (Akan, Ewe and Ga) | Download Table - ResearchGate However, the different Ghanaian ethnic groups largely share one common belief: the naming of their children. 184.168.121.153 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. Heinz, in fact. The Akan kanguage has some beautiful names with meanings. Parents in Ghana name their children after notable people in the community, historical events, or natural phenomena. There are also many annual festivals. Every third female child is called Kaa. TOP 10 Tribes In Ghana With Most Beautiful Women - YouTube The names come in pairs for male and female children. Caitrona. These names have remained an integral part of Ghanaian culture and heritage. "The family name of this people starts with a man and his wife; with the Ama or Amarh line. ART 10 Top Ghanaian Photographers To Know. 9. Lists of links to thousands of names from Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Congo, Djibouti, Eastern Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya . Kwabena (male) Abena (female) The day on which land was made to appear. 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]]. Baby Name Generator. Watch the full program here: Copyright 1994 - 2023 GhanaWeb. 2. Ghana - The World Factbook In the old bygone era, it was said that a Ga man would die for his name [[6]], but presently, it looks as though newer Ga generations have forgotten the houses that bore and bred their forefathers. In his study of Ghanaian personal names, Adjah [3] indicates that, Ewe, Akan, and Ga children are named according to the day on which they are born. This name means strong-willed and determined. Ababio Originating from Ghana, this name means 'kid that keeps coming'. Certain shapes, such as a sword or chair coffin, represent royal or priestly insignia with a magical and religious function. 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). Many Ghanaian names are from African origin and Akan names, and other from other ethnic groups. 150+ Ghanaian Female Names And Meanings - weafrique.com It is mainly a food festival which celebrates the passing of that terrible period in the history of the Ga people. Afreyea (Ghanaian origin ) meaning "born during good times". What day of the week were you born? Photo: @moneyandstamp. Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. Dangme is the most widespread language of the region, Ga being confined to the coastal towns around Accra and Tema. Saturday is also a day observed as the Sabbath in traditional/typical Akan communities. Deities of the Akan Religion | Encyclopedia.com Diverse ethnicities have variants and meanings as a symbol of cultural integrity and ancestral affiliation. This means that funerals are often paid for by wealthier members of the family, if such a member exists, with smaller contributions coming from other working members of the family. 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. Find below a list of 50 ghana baby boy names with diverse origins and meanings: 1. 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. You'll love these names if you adore the classy, bygone era. 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." Family names. Euphemisms are very common, especially about events connected . Their original homeland is in Goshen city, Egypt. play videoChief Priest of Osu Nadu/ Klottey, Wor-Lumor Nuumo Noi Sekanku Kpenuku II. They are very inquisitive and tend to be pulled into a thing of interest. MomJunction provides content for informational purposes only. All the countries of Africa. 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. This is due to the Ghanaian day names tradition, one of the many ceremonies and customs that take place in Ghana. Frequently, children are given a "day name" which corresponds to the day in the week when they were born. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ga-Adangbe_people&oldid=1137991226, Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Warren Gamaliel Kpakpo Akwei, also known as, John William Hansen, a singer, a composer, an arranger, a saxophonist, and a pioneer of highlife music. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You can learn more of their names by visiting any Ga community. It is worn to compliment the Ntoma outfit by both men and women. In a tiny flat in Ghana, in west Africa, an aspiring entrepreneur trawls Facebook for divorced and widowed women on the other side of the world. You can also learn a few slang words to impress and surprise your fellow Ghanaians. With it, at least the first names are complete. Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. NAMES & MEANING OF AFRICAN PRINT. - The Voice of Inspiration. This is needed as the coffin is only a portion of the total funeral cost that will be incurred. The family name of this people starts with a man and his wife; with the Ama or Amarh line. Ghana Festivals National Holidays Presidents and Head of State of Ghana President of Ghana Busia and Edward Akufo Addo President of Ghana - Jerry Rawlings President of Ghana - (Formals) - Hilla Limann President of Ghana Nana Addo President of Ghana John Kufuor President of Ghana Atta Mills Whenever you hear of Fofo it means she is the fifth child of her parent. Bediako. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Ga- Girl Names Starting with "Ga" 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 name implies a pioneering spirit. Other Tribes include Ga-Adangbe, Twi, and these Ghanaian Female names can be used interchangeably by some of these tribes. This pretty name means "cheerful" or "lively" in Italian and makes a beautiful option for a little girl. 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. These names arent only found in Ghana as some of these tribes spill over to other west African countries. : Tribal names. Of course thats not all. Over time, the Akan have defined seven names per gender, each referring to a day of the week. Below are Music In Africa's five Ghanaian female artists to watch, in no particular order. In addition, they are each adorned with custom-made glass beads, colorful loincloths, and various forms of woven headgear. 2011 - 2023 MomJunction Private Limited. . Ghanaian name - Wikipedia 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]]. A deeper look into the different cultures of the African continent, its food, people, music, art, language and more. She also specializes in baby names. Although the Kojo name is not of a Ga descent, its founder Wetse Kojo was an enslaved person who became a wealthy trader. Looking at the above names, it is easy to deduce that almost all Ga families have some form of changed or corrupted names which is now the dominant or most common name. Mensah is the most common Ghanian surname with one in 55 people having the name. Furthermore, the Akan have names for the order in which children are born. At the durbar, greetings are exchanged between the chiefs, libations are poured and declarations of allegiance are made. The area is centered at approximately 2 W. longitude and 5 N. latitude. So when you hear of any female Ga girl called Atswei it means , she is the first born of her parents. ): 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). Surname Prominent name personalities: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan ("Kofi" = male for "born on a Friday") Ghana's First President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah ("Kwame" = male for "born on a Saturday") Writer Ama Ata Aidoo ("Ama" = female name for "born on Saturday" and "Ata" shows that she is a twin) Like this: Loading. The Ga-Dangbe music includes drumming and dancing. Pigments: A series Exploring the Art of Body-Painting in Africa. The Akan, culturally and linguistically related tribes in West Africa, do the same as other African and Jamaican ethnic groups: Name their children after the respective day they were born. Names. Each town had a stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. After reading an article by Gilbert Nii-Okai Addy, a writer and guitarist, about Adedainkpo (old Accra), I joined Accra Archive Fellow Akotowaa Ofori to interview him about Ga history, ethnicity, naming patterns and more. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The Amu Dako names are of the Otublohum quarter of Ga Mashie. These names are also used among Ghanaians living abroad and among Africans living in the diaspora who wish to identify with their ancestral homeland. The Ga-Adangbe or Ga Adangme people are usually grouped as part of the Ga-Dangme ethnolinguistic groups of Ghana, Benin, and Togo. 117 Ghana Baby Names With Meanings | Momjunction Home Baby Names 117 Ghana Baby Names With Meanings By shikha thakur, MBA Mar 1, 2023 Illustration: MomJunction Design Team When a baby is born in Ghana, a lot of thinking goes into the naming, just like in cultures all around the world. There are six significant settlements from which a Ga child could be born into. [6], The Ga people were organized into six independent towns (Accra (Ga Mashie), Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, and Tema). Depending on the region (and whether it is Christian or Muslim) the children will often get common Christian or Muslim first names. Even Jamaica has it! Chale: Friend (Ga term). It is celebrated in remembrance of a great famine that hit the Ga people. Rather, it consists of hundreds of different ethnic influences and tribes who speak their own dialects and their own languages, having different cultural backgrounds. 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. Ethnic Ga family names (surnames) include Nikoi, Amon, Kotey, Kotie, Adei, Kutorkor, Oblitey, Lartey, Nortey, Aryee, Poku and Lamptey. Most Common Ghanaian Surnames & Meanings - Forebears Please use this up to date list of Ghana name as a reference to name your kid/child. Beautiful Ghanaian Names and What They Mean - Culture Trip The coffins can be anything wanted by relatives of the deceased from a pencil to an elephant. After Atswei comes Ayokor. Is one who encountered a lot of sorrow, Antobre. 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. Yes, baked beans. January Baby Names: Top 50 Names Boys and Girls Born in January 5 Interesting Facts about December Born Baby Names | Christmas Baby Names These are called day names, and they hold meanings regarding the soul of the baby and character traits. Morowa Pronounced: Mo-ro-wah Meaning: Queen Best For: Female 4.