It looks very bad to me when I see all or most Africans with English or foreign names but you never see others with African names. Are we being stupid or can someone explain to me why it is necessary for an African person to immediately be given a foreign name. Can someone explain to me why a person from Nigeria, for example would be named edwin clark, john coles, goodluck johnathan, abdudalem abubaka? This is ridiculous. When wud my african peepz wake up . Have a good day yall

Not me. My name is fully African with a mix of Igbo and Ibibio.

My parents made that mistake because they thought it was cool.

But my baby is going to have 3 cool african names(first, middle, and last names)

ebere1712:

It looks very bad to me when I see all or most Africans with English or foreign names but you never see others with African names. Are we being silly or can someone explain to me why it is necessary for an African person to immediately be given a foreign name. Can someone explain to me why a person from Nigeria, for example would be named edwin clark, john coles, goodluck johnathan, abdudalem abubaka? This is ridiculous. When wud my african peepz wake up . Have a good day yall

Im glad you opened this thread because i find it such a shame for Africans to continue giving their children or themselves these european and arabic names. Are Europeans and arabs giving their own children African names?No. This is just a slave mentality. Then they will you an excuse of "It is in the Bible" or "It is in the Quran".Whether it is or it isn't it is jewish and arabic and not your people's name. Why not find out the meaning of those names and translate it into you native language. I'm glad i only have my native names.

chyz:

Im glad you opened this thread because i find it such a shame for Africans to continue giving their children or themselves these european and arabic names. Are Europeans and arabs giving their own children African names?No. This is just a slave mentality. Then they will you an excuse of "It is in the Bible" or "It is in the Quran".Whether it is or it isn't it is jewish and arabic and not your people's name. Why not find out the meaning of those names and translate it into you native language. I'm glad i only have my native names.

God bless you, it is totally wrong, I dont know what happened to our beautiful African names, another painful one again is not teaching the kids their language even some parents that live there in Nigeria still want their kids to speak only English.

High_Chief:

God bless you, it is totally wrong, I dont know what happened to our beautiful African names, another painful one again is not teaching the kids their language even some parents that live there in Nigeria still want their kids to speak only English.

You are not lying. I was in Arochukwu and one of my kin did not want his children speaking Igbo. He only wanted English spoken since he thinks Igbo spoils their tongue.

I am thankful that my parents not only wanted me to learn English, they taught me Igbo and Ibibio. As well as French.

Well I understand what the poster is saying, but its not just Africans that are doing this. Latinos and Asians are bearing Christian names and all.

In Naija, most people who have a Christian name still have a native name and are still African. You cant say that for the Northern part of the country that despite how black they are, see themselves as if they are ARAB, when the Arabs see them as inferior olodos.

Going to Europe, you'll find Isabella, Elizabeth, Eliza, Mary, Maria, Peter, Pablo, etc., which actually are biblical/Hebraic  names that were given to Christians (i.e. King John, Queen Mary) etc.

mens dept:

Well I understand what the poster is saying, but its not just Africans that are doing this. Latinos and Asians are bearing Christian names and all.

In Naija, most people who have a Christian name still have a native name and are still African. You cant say that for the Northern part of the country that despite how black they are, see themselves as if they are ARAB, when the Arabs see them as inferior olodos.

Going to Europe, you'll find Isabella, Elizabeth, Eliza, Mary, Maria, Peter, Pablo, etc., which actually are biblical/Hebraic  names that were given to Christians (i.e. King John, Queen Mary) etc.

have you ever seen anybody from other parts of the world answering bola, chinedu and so on. Can anybody tell me a name that is hausa for example and not islamic. I as a Nigerian shud know this but I dont because you always hear their arabic names . But we are all guilty of this stupidity, it is not only the northern nigerians. The edwin clerks and goodluck Johnathan that have have done their forefathers disservice by taking a foreign name as their surnames are southerners. Anyways I cant change a thing about this. Peter,Paul and most of the names you mentioned here are europeanised names of the hebraic names have a gud day tho and thanks for ur contrib

Different reasons some are the influence of missionaries, TV or ease of pronunciation.
I would prefer an African with an English name who knows and understands his culture and language than an African who doesn't know the meaning of his/her name nor language. That for me is a sad reality


"Many of you know that I got my name, Barack, from my father. What you may not know is Barack is actually Swahili for 'That One.' And I got my middle name from somebody who obviously didn't think I'd ever run for president" ~ Barack Obama


Its not the name its the character that matters

This situation is really sad, my 3 names are all African.

Traditional Hausa names are:

Kande
Turai
Larai
Yelwa
Kubura
Maimuna
Monsura
Yasira
Uwani
Shibu
Jamila
Hindatu
Goggo

kcjazz:

Different reasons some are the influence of missionaries, TV or ease of pronunciation.
I would prefer an African with an English name who knows and understands his culture and language than an African who doesn't know the meaning of his/her name nor language. That for me is a sad reality


"Many of you know that I got my name, Barack, from my father. What you may not know is Barack is actually Swahili for 'That One.' And I got my middle name from somebody who obviously didn't think I'd ever run for president" ~ Barack Obama


Its not the name its the character that matters

This is where you are wrong. Also, you fail to state that when obama was told by his white surroundings during the election to use an english name i believe it was "Barry" he refused, and let it be known that he is proud of his african heritage and will not sell out to please anyone.If it is not the name that matters arabs and white people would have been using the names of the Africans that they first came in contact with during the expedition days.

My first name was American, had it legally changed recently to my Yoruba one

Ileke-IdI:

My first name was American, had it legally changed recently to my Yoruba one

Beautiful

chyz:

Beautiful

Thanks, babe.

chyz:

This is where you are wrong. Also, you fail to state that when obama was told by his white surroundings during the election to use an english name i believe it was "Barry" he refused, and let it be known that he is proud of his african heritage and will not sell out to please anyone.If it is not the name that matters arabs and white people would have been using the names of the Africans that they first came in contact with during the expedition days.

I don't know if I understand you correctly. However, all am saying is promoting our culture is more important than a name. On my list, I would focus on teaching my kids about the culture and heritage.

kcjazz:

I don't know if I understand you correctly. However, all am saying is promoting our culture is more important than a name. On my list, I would focus on teaching my kids about the culture and heritage.

Ehrrm our name is our identity, it is part of our culture.
So if we want to promote our culture, we need to start with our cultural name.
Our names are enriched with stories, with meanings, with live, with depth. . . . It is the most important thing in our culture.

^^^^ Yes they could be a part, I myself have 2 native names but there are different reasons why people might choose not to go with them. That doesn't make them any less a part of their African culture. Like I mentioned, I would prefer my kids know the language and understand their roots and that can be achieved without the name.

kcjazz:

^^^^ Yes they could be a part, I myself have 2 native names but there are different reasons why people might choose not to go with them. That doesn't make them any less a part of their African culture. Like I mentioned, I would prefer my kids know the language and understand their roots and that can be achieved without the name.

What are the reasons? Let me guess; Because it's hard to pronounce?
Do the shenequas and shebanban of this world make their names easier for you to pronounce?

kcjazz:

^^^^ Yes they could be a part, I myself have 2 native names but there are different reasons why people might choose not to go with them. That doesn't make them any less a part of their African culture. Like I mentioned, I would prefer my kids know the language and understand their roots and that can be achieved without the name.

You should be ashamed of yourself!

^^^
You are funny, maybe we see things differently. I have met Nigerians or Africans who do not know the meanings of their names. I just want to solve the problem by teaching my kids about their culture and language, that is a more difficult job than just throwing a name. Will I name them an African name yes most likely (but not a priority) but to say someone is not proud of his African roots because of his name, I find that a bit flawed.

kcjazz:

^^^
You are funny, maybe we see things differently. I have met Nigerians or Africans who do not know the meanings of their names. I just want to solve the problem by teaching my kids about their culture and language, that is a more difficult job than just throwing a name. Will I name them an African name yes most likely (but not a priority) but to say someone is not proud of his African roots because of his name, I find that a bit flawed.

Have you seen a typical British or American name his child something like Ada or Efe?

^^^^
Yes, very few. Their reasons maybe just looking for a unique name not because they love Africa

Ileke-IdI:

My first name was American, had it legally changed recently to my Yoruba one

Hun, You'll always be Shanqu'iyda Cymone to me , fuxck legal change or not!

kcjazz:

^^^^
Yes, very few. Their reasons maybe just looking for a unique name not because they love Africa

For where? Quit lying bro. Well, unless the FATHER is African.

bk.babe97y:

Hun, You'll always be Shanqu'iyda Cymone to me , fuxck legal change or not!

Your case is irredeemable.

Ileke-IdI:

For where? Quit lying bro. Well, unless the FATHER is African.

Wetin I do you? Why would I lie? I met a family that had unique names because the parents were African missionaries. While another the dad was a diplomat, all cultures represented.

Am not against African names, read all my previous posts. I am just saying having one does not make you Kunta Kinte or a Pan-African and for me its not a priority. Nelson Mandela's father did not name him Nelson but he chose to keep the name (which by the way was given to him by his primary school teacher) Does that make him less African? No.
The downside of globalization is real and that is why I feel I would teach my kids about the language and culture. My Asian classmates chose English names, does that make them any less Asian? No, as a people Asians are the most patriotic people I know.

kcjazz:


Wetin I do you? Why would I lie? I met a family that had unique names because the parents were African missionaries. While another the dad was a diplomat, all cultures represented.

Am not against  African names, read all my previous posts. I am just saying having one does not make you Kunta Kinte or a Pan-African and for me its not a priority. Nelson Mandela's father did not name him Nelson but he chose to keep the name (which by the way was given to him by his primary school teacher) Does that make him less African? No.
The downside of globalization is real and that is why I feel I would teach my kids about the language and culture. My Asian classmates chose English names, does that make them any less Asian? No, as a people Asians are the most patriotic people I know.

Do what you do, I've done my patriotic duty; letting you know how sad you case is

EzeUche0:

Traditional Hausa names are:

Kande
Turai
Larai
Yelwa
Kubura
Maimuna
Monsura
Yasira
Uwani
Shibu
Jamila
Hindatu
Goggo

The bolded are still Arabic names.

Larai and Turai are an Hausanized form of the Arabic names Balarabe and Thurayya

excanny:



The bolded are still Arabic names.

Larai and Turai are an Hausanized form of the Arabic names Balarabe and Thurayya

Not true, larai is a hausa name, balarabe as in balarabe musa means "arab" in hausa, the female version of that is balarabiya, and there are women with that name in Nigeria. The Hausanized version of Thurayya is Surayya not Turai. Turai means you were born in a foreign land. Thats why a white person is called "bature" meaning foreigner. Bello is a hausa name, so is dalhatu, sarki, tafida, tukur, lamido, badamasi, gambo, tanko, mairo, dogara, dikko and many more.

D same reason why africans lost their fundamental bearings is d same reason why they bear foreign names and follow foreign religions,i e,islam and xtianity.Enslaved mentality is more devastating than physical slavery.

@poster. I don't see the need of asking this question. The fact is names come with either religion or colonization/ political-cultural influence or need for assimilation. Haven't you see Chinese people with English names, go to Hong Kong or the Chinese that live in America or the west in general. Go to Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, most of the "stan" countries, Brunei, Iran (persians), Turkey (they're not arab), Albania and so on. You'll see that they mostly have Arabic names due solely to Islam, a religion of about 1.2 billion people. So its not peculiar to Nigeria or Africa. The europeans have a lot of names that come from hebrew/aramaic and general semitic origin, they anglicized most like Joshua from Yeshua etc. So europeans got the names from semites and passed it onto to Africans. If a people subscribes to any of the Abrahamic faiths then they'll have the same names like Moshe for Jews, Moses for xtians, Musa for Muslims. Those 3 are the same names. If you have indigenous beliefs as in parts of India and Japan then you're likely to have your own names. Actually, you have to praise Africans because they adopted the Abrahamic faiths and still kept their names, you cant say that for most others. Just go to Pakistan and see whether its easy to find Urdu or Pashtun names.