Thread by @IkengaSquare

Child naming (Iba Afa/Igu aha) in Igbo land entails a series of activities that culminates in the actual giving of names. Names given to a child can be seen as a story, told of the prevailing circumstance or philosophy at birth.

A child could be given up to 5 names including the one given by his/her ‘chi’ to respect the deity of the date of birth. Thus, any child born on any of ‘Afo’, ‘Nkwo̩’, ‘Eke’, ‘Orie/Oye’ automatically bears the name of that day; (Okorie/Okoye, Nwafor, Udenkwo, Akueke, etc.

However, in the early 20th century, the alteration of Igbo names began. The missionaries and early Christians altered Igbo names to suit their Christian idea of God thus the proliferation of ‘Chi’ names. ‘Chi’, (a personal spirit guide) became God.

Names like ‘Chioma’- ‘good Chi’ which originally meant - ‘lucky’ became ‘good God’. Names dedicated to Ala/Ani/Ana, the earth mother were also changed in preference for the Christian God. Eg, Anidozie, Aninyere, Anikaodili were substituted with Chidozie, Chinyere, Chikaodili.

The British, in a likewise manner, altered the names of some Igbo towns due to their inability to pronounce and spell the names or just to westernized them;

(‘Awka- Oka’, ‘Abatete’- ‘Eboteghete’, ‘Enugu’- ‘Enugwu’, ‘Onitsha’- ‘Onicha’, ‘Asaba’- ‘Ahaba’, ‘Owerri’- ‘Owere’, ‘Abakiliki’- ‘Abakeleke’, ‘Afikpo’- ‘Ehugbo’, ‘Awgu’- ‘Ogu’, ‘Bonny’- ‘Ubani’, ‘Ibusa’- ‘Igbuzo’, ‘Igrita’- ‘Igwuruta’, ‘Oguta’- ‘Ugwuta’).

The alterations continued with the anglicizing of Igbo names. Letters ‘H’ and ‘R’ are added after vowels, giving the names a supposedly English effect; Moore- Mụọ (spirit), Momah- Mụọma (the spirit knows), Udeh- Ude (fame), Ezeh- Eze (King), Okafor- Okafo...

(a male born on Afo market day). Some names are also shortened to sound more English – Chuks, Chinny.

With almost zero appreciation for their traditional Igbo names and the feeling of inferiority complex, many have gone for outright abandonment of their Igbo names.

The preference for English or Christian names has become the norm and sadly, a deliberate disconnection from the beautiful and rich cultural identity of Ndi Igbo.

Ụbọsị ọma nụ ụmụnne m!
#IgboAmaka