Akan first name
It is customary among the Ghanaian Akan to name children according to the day of the week they were born. The same system is used in other West African countries, for example by the Ewe in Togo and Ghana, the Fon in Benin and the Baule of the Ivory Coast , as well as by the Akan descendants in Suriname . The custom also reached Jamaica , but there other names are used for the days of the week.
Well-known carriers of Akan's first names are Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah ( Kwame : born on Saturday) and the former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan ( Kofi : born on Friday).
| weekday | Akan day | female first names | male first names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Edwoada / Dwoada | Adwoa / Adjoa , Ejo, Adzo | Jojo, Kojo, Kwadwo |
| Tuesday | Ebenada / Benada | Abena , Abla | Kwabena, Kobina, Ebo |
| Wednesday | Wukuada | Akua , Aku, Ekuwa | Kweku, Kuuku, Kwaku |
| Thursday | Yawoada | Yaaba, Yaa | Yao, Yaw, Ekwo |
| Friday | Efiada / Fiada | Efua / Afua , Afi, Afia | Kofi , Yoofi, Fiifi |
| Saturday | Memeneda | Awo, Aba, Ama, Amma | Kwame , Ato, Kwamena |
| Sunday | Kwasiada | Akosua , Kisi, Esi | Siisi, Akwasi, Kwesi |
See also: Culture in Ghana
literature
- Florence Abena Dolphyne: A comprehensive course in Twi (Asante) for the Non-Twi learner. Ghana Universities Press, Accra 1996, ISBN 9964-3-0245-2 .