THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND NAMES IN IGBO COSMOLOGY

by Odogwu Akin

Igbo names and their meaning are some of the unique things that make Ndigbo different from other tribes. Igbo parents name their children according to the circumstances or life experiences they encountered before childbearing. Some mothers gave birth to their child through a caesarean section and they named the child names like Chizaram Ekpere, Chiamaka, Chisom, and Chinazom for a female child, while Chukwudi, Chigboromogu, Chinemerem, Ekenedilichukwu, and Chukwunonso for a male child.

Some experienced childlessness for many years not until they finally conceived and gave birth to the child. I’m sure a true Igbo blood would know the name such parents will name the child.

Sadly, the 21st century Igbo parents are endangering the beautiful Igbo names, in no distant time, Igbo names may go into extinction if nothing is done to educate them about the true meaning of names in the Igbo language.

In the 60s and 70s, Igbo parents name their children according to the Igbo market days of the week. Names like Mgbeke, Mgborie, Mgbafor, Mgbakwo, etc for female, while Okonkwo, Okorie, Okafor, Okeke, Nworie, Nwankwo, Nwafor, Nweke, etc are for male. I’m sure that most parents nowadays would forbid naming their children such archaic names because they do not know the philosophy behind such naming and its meaning. Our ancestors were wise. The Igbo market days were so respectful and powerful and so many remarkable events occurred during each of the market days.

Some parents have stopped naming their children beautiful names like the following because the names were abbreviated and they do not know the true meaning of the names:
Azuka, Anayo, Ndidi, Eyiuche, Ebere, Onukwube, Ikenna, Chigbo, Osondu, Azubuike, Uwakwe, Onuowa, Ogechi, Emeka, etc.

For instance, in names like Azuka, Azubuike and Azuwuike, many people misinterpreted “Azu” as back, therefore, they thought the full meaning of those names in English is: ‘Azuka” Back is better/bigger
“Azubuike” Back is strength, and “Azuwuike” Back has strength. It’s quite unfortunate that so many people misinterpreted these beautiful names. What our ancestors mean by “Azu” is children not back. Like Umuazu or Umuazi. Then the full meaning of Azuka is ‘Umuazukaego‘ meaning “Children are better than money.” Azubuike is ‘Umuazubuikem‘ meaning “Children is my strength,” etc.

Some other people misinterpreted Anayo as “begging” because of its abbreviation meaning in the English language. The full meaning of the above name is ‘Anayochukwu’ meaning “supplicate/pray to God, “Kanayochukwu” let’s supplicate/pray to God.”

Abbreviations of Igbo names have bastardized the true meaning of the names which made some parents of nowadays forbids naming their children those beautiful names mentioned above.

My name has been abbreviated to Chigbo instead of Chukwugboromogum meaning “God (has) resolved my battle/fight.”

My parents named me after my maternal grandfather who reincarnated through me according to Igbo tradition. My grandfather’s parents named him according to the circumstances that surrounded them before his birth. There were so many battles they experienced while looking for a male child, finally, God answered their prayers and resolved the battle of childlessness through the birth of my grandfather.

These philosophies of naming children in Igbo land according to the life experiences, circumstances, hopes and aspirations of the parents have been in existence and we must follow in the footsteps of our parents.

Let us uphold the philosophy of naming our children Igbo names that depict our hopes and aspirations.

Some people have erased their Igbo name from their birth certificate because they are ashamed to bear a name they never cared to ask their parents the true meaning of. They may probably misinterpreted the meaning of their Igbo name as I stated above.

Note:
Names have negative and positive effects on their bearers. Some people are portrayed in line with the name they bear.
I have seen so many “John” behave like John…

I have seen “Kezaiah” ebe ona eke ihe oji buru nwanyi.

I have seen “Jonah” get swallowed up with problems bigger than the fish that swallowed Jonah in the Bible.

I have also seen some people change their surname from Nwagbara to Nwachukwu, then when “Nwachukwu” was in the Senate, “Nwagbara” became the Senate president.

Some others have changed their surname from Ugwu to Hills, and I have seen Ugwu become the Speaker of the Enugu state assembly.

Some others have changed their surname from “Ngwu” to something else, but Ngwu is a principal officer in the national assembly.

Let us go back to our roots. The earlier the better…

Udo diri unu nile…