Baby Names: Real Names with Real Meanings for African Children by Sam Chekwas and Tiria Mason

The naming ceremony is a momentous tradition throughout the African continent. It is told that when Elekwa was born, his father was away on a fishing expedition struggling in the high seas with the winds and dark forces of the ocean. His new born son, noting his absence was in constant search for his father. The agitated child was named Elekwa for looking around, wondering and crying. When his father finally returned from the expedition, the first question he asked was “where is Elekwa”, because he was spiritually in contact with his son. We are disappointed by the names that people claim to be Ibo, Yoruba or categorized as African. The demand for baby name books is booming so companies contract people who have no knowledge of African names, to compile name books with so called African origin. In a popular name book for African American children, the name Chijioke: God gives wisdom, is translated as a Yoruba name for power money; Ikechukwu, a popular Ibo name is translated as a Yoruba name for God of fire; Ifeachu, is translated as Yoruba for God’s child and Ezebueni is translated as a Yoruba name for love. All of these meanings are wrong. Let us give our children some identity and pride, starting with their names. Let us name our children Hubert: German for bright, shining mind, rather than Houston: Scottish for name of a town. When a child is named Akweke: Ibo for the egg of a boa, let it be known that the child is valuable, delicate and precious.