Kwame

Kwame
GenderMale
Origin
Word/nameAshanti people
Meaningborn on a Saturday
Region of origin Ashanti
Empire of Ashanti
Other names
Related names

Kwame is an Akan masculine given name among the Akan people (such as the Ashanti and Fante) in Ghana which is given to a boy born on Saturday. Traditionally in Ghana, a child would receive their Akan day name during their Outdooring, eight days after birth.[1][2]

According to Akan tradition, people born on particular days exhibit certain characteristics or attributes.[1][2] Kwame has the appellation "Atoapoma" or "Oteanankannuro" meaning "combat ready".[1][2]

The day naming tradition in Ghana extends to folk characters such as Anansi and deities. Traditional Akan religion states that God created himself on Saturday and is therefore also named "Kwame".[3]

Origin and meaning of Kwame

In the Akan culture, day names are derived from deities.[4] Kwame originated from Koyame and the Akan day name God.[1][5] The name Kwame means extremes in fortune, health and spirituality; versatile, idealistic and intuitive.[6] Males named Kwame are reputed to be talented and good problem solvers.[4]

Male variants of Kwame

Variant spellings include Kwamé, Kouamé, Kwami, Kwamena, and Kwamina, according to the various Akan subgroups.[7][2] It is spelt Kwame by the Akuapem and Ashanti subgroups, while the Fante subgroup spell it as Kwamena or Kwamina.[1][7]

Female version of Kwame

In the Akan culture and other local cultures in Ghana, day names come in pairs for males and females.[1] The variant of the name used for a female child born on Saturday is Ama.[1][2]

Notable people with the name

The most well-known bearer of the name was Kwame Nkrumah, President of Ghana and a founder of Pan-Africanism - mainly due to whom the name spread also to non-Ghanaians.

People with this name include:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names". ResearchGate. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kamunya, Mercy (19 October 2018). "Akan names and their meanings". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  3. ^ Arko-Achemfuor, Akwesi (18 October 2018). "Naming of children and meaning of names among the Akan of Ghana: defining identities". Southern African Journal for Folklore Studies. 28 (1): 7. doi:10.25159/1016-8427/4294. S2CID 158371631. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b Last Name, First Name (2020). "Title". doi:10.21303/978-617-7319-30-5. S2CID 242646110. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "The Akan Day Names and Their Embedded Ancient Symbolism". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Kwame. What Does My Name Mean? Find Out!". Seven Reflections. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "'Day born names' in Dagbani, Ewe and Fante". GhanaWeb. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021.

Fictional character