The Ghanaian Tradition of Day Names: Background information when reading The Rest of You

The Ghanaian Tradition of Day Names

This article relates to The Rest of You

There are many different tribes and cultural influences in Ghana; therefore, Ghanaian culture shouldn't be assumed to be a monolith. However, the tradition of naming children after the day they are born is a common practice in the country. It originates from the Akan people — the largest ethnic group in Ghana, making up 47.3% of the population — and is present throughout West Africa and the African diaspora.

The tradition names children after the day of the week they are born and birth order (with designated additional names given if siblings are born on the same day of the week, or are twins). The names have a deeper meaning connected to the soul and character of the person, similar to the more widespread symbolism of astrological signs. Most Ghanaians have at least one name from this tradition, even if they also have an English name.

In The Rest of You by Maame Blue, several characters are referred to by their day names.

"Mabel always emphasized Aretha's day name — given because of her Monday birth and assumed peaceful nature — like it was something special, a thing to be handled delicately."

"Bobo, that name you couldn't bear to hear from anyone who wasn't Ma Gloria. An approximation of Abena, your day name — Tuesday-born — that you couldn't pronounce when you were a child…"

Names for the seven days follow this basic system, though variations exist:

• Monday (associated with peace, calm, and quiet) is Kojo for male and Adwoa for female.
• Tuesday (associated with the ocean) is Kwabena for male and Abena for female.
• Wednesday (associated with the folklore character Ananse, who takes the form of a spider) is Kweku for male and Akua for female.
• Thursday (associated with earth) is Yaw for male and Yaa for female.
• Friday (associated with fertility) is Kofi for male and Afua for female.
• Saturday (associated with God) is Kwame for male and Ama for female.
• Sunday (associated with the universe) is Kwesi for male and Akosua for female.

A few notable examples of people with day names include Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Ama Ata Aidoo, a Ghanaian author, poet, politician, and academic. The "Ata" in Aidoo's name refers to her status as a twin sibling.

Names carry significance and meaning for many people worldwide, including Ghanaians. As seen in The Rest of You, they can have ripple effects on a child's identity and help them and others gain more insight into who they are as individuals.

Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan Speaks With Press After Meeting of Action Group for Syria (June 30, 2012)
Courtesy of United States Mission Geneva (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Filed under Places, Cultures & Identities

This article relates to The Rest of You. It first ran in the November 6, 2024 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.