What’s in an African name?

ONE of Shakespeare’s most enduring quotes, ‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’

The answer to this age-old question, posed in ‘Romeo and Juliet’, depends on the particular culture in which it is posed.In many African cultures, names carry deep meaning, derived from the culture and language of the individual. Words have power, and names too, have the ability to either inspire or imprison.The Weekender hit the social networks to find out about people’s African names and their meanings …
Hilya MosesMeliheketji is a Themba name meaning: ‘I have a mother and father and I everything else I need. Why should I bother with you.’
@iamjanice18Kabuba, I have no idea what it means. African child ruined by the west.
Gabriel TjanguraTueumuna means, ‘we have seen the world’. Kavejamua means, ‘they are not helped’, Kamaripu means, ‘it (the world) will never be good’ and Uakuaterua, means ‘for he is born’.
@imani1409 Abena means, ‘born on a Tuesday’. My parents weren’t feeling too philosophical that day.
Namene Fürchtgott Namene means, ‘the one that wakesearly or an early bird’. Ndalikokule means, ‘I was far. Born far from home.’
@the_Tonata Tonata means, ‘to be vigilant’ orliterally, to ‘open your eyes’.
@Lamek_S65Mweneni means, ‘(telling people) to keep quiet’.
@mevrou_moongoGwangushu means ‘value or quality.’
Jennifer OchurusSurihe is a Damara/Nama name meaning, ‘someone is jealous of you’.
Vincent AngeloTjarioumutua-otjimori means, ‘the way the less fortunate suffer, is the same way you will suffer.’
@Beaulz1Hotani means, ‘what ever I want, I will get.’
Jan MaasdorpUbuntu means, ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others and does not feel threatened that others are able and good.
@Tjandero Tjandero means, ‘wake up with determination’.Rattex Namibia Ahrie Khoe Gaubis is a Nama name meaning ‘the dog king’.
Luise Latoka Nalitungwe is a direct translation meaning ‘let it be built’. I guess when he saw me as a little girl, he saw a mother figure.
@I_Am_SwiTnes Ndalinoshisho means, ‘I have a responsibility’ in Oshikwanyama.
@TwempewaTwempewa means, ‘you are given to us (the Saviour)’.
Magano Lulu HoseaLulu is a Swahili name. It has various meanings; ‘precious, protected, pearl, peaceful, calm’. In my case it means, ‘remarkably wonderful’. Magano Lulu means, ‘a remarkable, wonderful gift of God’s favour.’
@Pwetty_PPewanyambe means, ‘gift from God’.
@emcerastusNdapanda means, ‘I am glad, happy’, and Kakulupe means, ‘little old person’. I love the latter though, makes me feel wise.
@coyoman28Vehaa, in Otjiherero roughly translates as ‘they divide’.
@jayiyamboFiindje means, ‘be like me’, and Pendukeni means, ‘wake up’.Innoçen KayokoNgudhi means, ‘pole’, Yomugolo means, ‘strong tree’ while Tweegamena means, ‘we are leaning’. Our Traditional homesteads have those poles to support it. That’s me supporting my family.
@NevvyNev1Does Seun qualify as African? [Seun means boy inAAfrikaans].
Menethe Hiyavali‎Tunemanya means, ‘we have a rock’ in Mbandja.Ndakolo HermanNdakolonghoshi means, ‘I adapt a lion’. There is a proverb in Oshikwanyama, meaning I have adapted a person who eventually becomes my enemy. This name is mostly given to a son, as an indirect message to enemies. Lebo KhobetsiLorato means ‘love’ in Setswana.Judy GabriëlLesedi means ‘light’ in Setswana. I’m simply the light that that shines in the lives of people I meet.Joyvin KanuamevaHikuepi or Hitarepi means, ‘where should I look to seek?’ I was named by my grandfather because by the time I was born, he had lost all his brothers. Mushabati AronMushabati is a Lozi name meaning, ‘sand soil’ (a substance that is found on beaches and deserts).Ngòzì CàrtèrNgozichukwu means, ‘God’s blessings are the greatest’ in Igbo. Peneyambeko means, ‘there is a blessing’ in Oshiwambo.Chester LikandoMatengu is a Subia name meaning, ‘born in the evening’ or ‘owner of the night’.Elias MaqetukaLuthando means, ‘full of love’ and Mongameli means, ‘leader’ in Xhosa.Jefta KandorozuVaapi is a Herero name meaning, ‘where did they go?’ Since I never saw both my grandparents, my parent’s knew I’d ask about my grandparents. Esther AmuthenuNdakalako is an Oshiwambo name which means, ‘I stayed long’. People never thought there will be another baby coming. There’s a gap of four years between me and my sister.Delle GeisesDisen is a Damara name meaning, ‘ask yourself’.Polo BaggioElungu, is a Oshikwambi name meaning, ‘my upper lip is longer, bigger and wider then the lower one’. So cute.Compiled by Shinovene Immanuel.

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