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ANOTHER KIND OF UNFORTUNATE

EVENT NAMES

In the early months of 2005, a tsunami ravaged SE Asia, leading to an enormous loss of life. In some cases, entire communities were destroyed. Shortly afterwards, a young couple gave birth to a baby boy, and named him Tsunami. To many in the USA, this name seemed morbid and entirely inappropriate. Why give a child a name that would serve as a constant reminder of the tragedy?

Because, quite simply, we don't think of names the same way. We try to choose names with positive meanings, if we consider them at all. More frequently, we choose names that sound attractive, ones that sometimes have no meaning at all. That isn't the case in many parts of the world. Names are as much about social communication and things happening around the baby as they are about the child itself. Tsunami, for instance, is a name describing something very important and life-changing which happened at the time of the birth, not a celebration of it. Similar names have meanings such as "dust" for a child born at a time of drought.

Simiyu, Simuyu	Abaluhya of Uganda	Born in a drought
Maside	Abaluyia of Kenya	Tears, born at the time of a funeral
Ahyia	Akan of Ghana	Born during a tragedy
Afiriyie	Akan of Ghana	He arrived at a good time
Monyyak	Dinka of Southern Sudan	Man of the drought
Adeiza, Adoiza	Ebira of Nigeria	Born after his father's death
Onuya	Ebira of Nigeria	Born after sadness in a family
Jegozhin	Gbagyi of Nigeria	Double tragedy
Ekarika	Ibibio of Nigeria	Harmattan
Oshashi	Igarro	Born during a famine
Wanjala	Luhya of Kenya	Famine
Chutch	Luo of Uganda	Born prematurely
Etsiletlala, Tlala	Setswana of Botswana	Born in a time of hunger
Muzipasi	Tumbuka of Nothern Malawi	Born in a village where many people have died
Ohia	Akan of Ghana	Born in poverty
Onibie	Akan of Ghana	She has no-one
Oveyi	Akan of Ghana	Her birth prevented a divorce
Avari	Igarro of Nigeria	Bringing the child up although struggling to make ends meet

NAMES REFERRING TO INFANT MORTALITY

Infant mortality is a dreadful specter in developing nations, where disease, infections, parasites and malnutrition may claim one in five children under the age of five. Families often lose multiple infants from causes we in first world nations consider worrying, but certainly not a matter of significant concern. Faced with the threat of losing their beloved child, parents try to find something - anything - they can do to prevent it. In many cases, one possibility involves giving the child a name that will either appeal to death or evil spirits to leave the child alone; use a type of reverse psychology by giving the child a degrading name which will make the spirits feel it isn't worth their energy to take it; or one which will appeal to the child's spirit. The last relates to the idea of the newborn's spirit being mischievous, and possibly being born and dying many times as a type of practical joke, so the names try to convince the spirit, through cajoling or trickery, to stay and be loved.

Bagyina	Akan of Ghana	May this one stay
Kronhia	Akan of Ghana	If you choose to go to Hell, we don't need you here on earth
Kuntu	Akan of Ghana	Stick for trapping animals, a worthless object
Nsamankwanasi	Akan of Ghana	The cemetary road is blocked
Sohna	Bassa of Cameroon	Anxiety (that the child will not live)
Ahi	Ebira of Nigeria	A passing wind that never settles
Anako	Ebira of Nigeria	Death is a tyrant
Apatewa	Ebira of Nigeria	Death, let my efforts not be in vain
Arikochunu	Ebira of Nigeria	Death, it is enough
Asido	Ebira of Nigeria	Let the child remain
Eromi	Ebira of Nigeria	Death, please have mercy
Evenemi	Ebira of Nigeria	Deceiver (death)
Ojenya	Ebira of Nigeria	Death, the wicked robber, has come again
Otuhuo	Ebira of Nigeria	If he stays until the next day, we will rejoice
Nkanta	Efik of Nigeria	No one knows if he will survive or not
Abwafia, Afiaya	Gbagyi of Nigeria	When the hands are tired, he/she will be thrown out
Binna	Gbagyi of Nigeria	Bury at a tender age
Jebiyi	Gbagyi of Nigeria	Another buried one
Avaze, Azemi	Igarro	I will rejoice if death permits me to have this gift of God
Ayami	Igarro	This one belongs to me, not death
Ishuwana	Igarro	When are you going back again?
Kimondo	Kikuyu of Kenya	big/ugly bag
Kalejaye	Yoruba of Nigeria	Sit down and enjoy life
Kuforiji	Yoruba of Nigeria	Death pardoned this one
Kukoyo	Yoruba of Nigeria	Death refused him/her
Malomo	Yoruba of Nigeria	Don't depart again
Rotimi	Yoruba of Nigeria	Stand by me
Siwoku	Yoruba of Nigeria	Stop dying
Ayimihi	Akan of Ghana	Death, I am prepared to pay for that which God has given me, let this child live
Ihiani	Akan of Ghana	When is she going?
Ihiezeyi	Akan of Ghana	She could go away any day she pleases
Matureyi	Akan of Ghana	We are not expecting you to live
Umurezu	Akan of Ghana	Death, I am tired
Guedado	Fulani of Nigeria	Wanted by no-one
Alaya	Gbagyi of Nigeria	It is thrown out; no hope of survival

NAMES AS A MESSAGE TO OTHERS

What do you do when your culture frowns on direct confrontation? Perhaps your neighbors are gossiping behind your back, or your mother-in-law complains that her child deserved so much better and got you instead. Perhaps you're not even quite sure that you are the parent of your brand new baby. How do you make your feelings known to the community, and how could you say to your neighbor what you've always wanted to say? You use a name, and it sends the message loud and clear, while still being culturally appropriate.

Interestingly, these names are as likely to be used for the family dog as for a child, and some can be very long. The full form will be used initially, with a short form being used after the parent (or owner) is sure that the person the message is directed to has heard and understood. There are times a dog is acquired for the express purpose of giving it a message name. For the Yoruba of Nigeria, as many as 80% of dogs owned by women have this type of name. While they are less common among children, they are certainly not rare. Far from it. They are a necessary factor in confronting a problem and airing grievances.

Saara	Akan of Ghana	That's how they are
Sanketie	Akan of Ghana	Go back and listen
Toani	Akan of Ghana	I'll only look on
Ntamak	Bassa of Cameroon	Jealousy
Drependa	Bete of the Ivory Coast	I will not forget
Ekpo	Efik of Nigeria	Father was lazy or poor
Alamibosha	Gbagyi of Nigeria	I have been conspired against
Atoviwali	Gbagyi of Nigeria	Do not imitate his ways
Kuyembo	Gbagyi of Nigeria	People have planned against me
Mamisna	Gbagyi of Nigeria	Laughing at me
Tabami	Gbagyi of Nigeria	I am not counted when it matters
Tayajelon	Gbagyi of Nigeria	We have not left each other
Iso	Ibibio of Nigeria	Grudge
Iwegbula	Ibo of Nigeria	Let the anger of others not kill this child
Iwedinobi	Ibo of Nigeria	Those around me harbor malice
Emembolu	Ibo of Nigeria	If you do harm to me, I shall seek revenge
Abaraonye	Ibo of Nigeria	Whom are you threatening?
Acholam	Ibo of Nigeria	Do not provoke me
Obiegbula	Ibo of Nigeria	Let not the evil heart of others kill this child
Aivenero	Igarro	Not as the detractors expected
Aneshe	Igarro	Mouthpiece of the world; do not listen to gossip
Emarishi	Igarro	I am vindicated
Eyonivi	Igarro	May my enemies live to see my progress
Makada	Igarro	I have said it (and won't take it back)
Bhekizitha	Zulu of South Africa	Watch out for enemies
Saanti	Akan of Ghana	That's why
Abedalo	Gbagyi of Nigeria	There are a lot of talks
Besnanyi	Gbagyi of Nigeria	People are hurt of me
Nyatta	Ibibio of Nigeria	I am not angry
Emeriegbu	Ibo of Nigeria	Anger, hatred or ill will do not kill
Eyonivi	Igarro of Nigeria	Let my enemies live to see my progress
Kengi	Loma of Kenya	Whose child?
Kebugul	Sara of Chad	No one trusts you
Humisa	Xhosa of South Africa	Neglected (by husband)
Xihoxo	Xhosa of South Africa	A mistake was made (marrying a drunk)
Dumazile	Zulu of South Africa	You have disappointed me in marriage

NAMES OF DESPERATION

Namennim	Akan of Ghana	I never knew (life could be so traumatizing)
Nimsaa	Akan of Ghana	If I had known...
Ntensere	Akan of Ghana	Don't laugh when you hear (my troubles)
Umeredo	Ebira of Nigeria	I can't take it any longer
Koofrey	Efik of Nigeria	Don't forget me
Tanjayi	Gbagyi of Nigeria	I have nothing
Kwanele	Tsonga of South Africa	Enough of oppression
Semereka	Akan of Ghana	If I should tell...
Chenyami	Gbagyi of Nigeria	That fate which is following me
Tashinya	Gbagyi of Nigeria	I cannot dance this
Zazhin	Gbagyi of Nigeria	One's own suffering

Rebecca Gilbert, MS

bonster42@gmail.com