10 FASCINATING Nigerian Names (and why) [Featured Artiste: Ogecha]

Image Source: Kathy Ponce on Flickr
So, I did a little bit of re-modelling and settled on this template (for now, at least).  I had no idea that finding a template could be so difficult. Or maybe it is just because I am so picky! Oh well, either way, I visited a couple of blogs over the past week and noticed that several of them (e.g. Myne Whitman, The Corner Shop) were emptying the contents of their purses (which I thought was quite interesting) and putting them on display.  But you will not be seeing the contents of my purse anytime soon (*sticks out tongue*).  I don’t think I should do that right now since I am just getting the hang of this blogging thing. However, from looking at those pictures, I got an idea: put up a post on some Nigerian names I have always found fascinating and a few random reasons why I find these names…well….interesting (how original, right?! *laughs*)

So, without much further ado, here is my list of TEN (10) Nigerian names I find fascinating IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER (Why ten? I don’t have a good reason for that o! Maybe because all these yeye countdowns usually use “10” for some reason….Or maybe because last year was “2010”….Or maybe because Nigeria’s independence day is in October, the “TENTH” month….Okay, let me stop rambling and get right down to it already!!!)



1.   Akpos:  I find this name fascinating because apparently it is a unisex name (correct me if I am wrong) and the two examples that come to mind are: (1) Akpos Okudu, a young Nigerian designer who has been featured on Bella Naija (which is where I first found out about her) as one of the top designers to look out for in 2011.

Akpos Okudu
Image Credit: Bella Naija
And, (2) A guy called Akpos in a skit that I saw on The AY Show (via YouTube of course).


2.  Afam:  This name is on this list because of Afam Okereke, a well-known director and producer of Nollywood movies.  I just seem to hear “produced and directed by Afam Okereke” very often during the previews of those Nollywood movies.  Did I mention that I am a Nollywood movie fan? Well, I just told you!

Afam Okereke
Image Credit: Online Nigeria


      One of the popular movies he directed and produced was "Beyonce and Rihanna" with Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde as "Rihanna" and Nadia Buari as "Beyonce." (How original)

Image Credit: Nollywood Love
3.       Nnamdi:  Please don’t ask me why, but when I hear the name “Nnamdi,” I immediately think of a tall, dark, handsome man (but then you might know an Nnamdi with a coconut head, so let’s not make assumptions now, shall we?)  I really don’t know why, but I suspect it originated from my days of watching Richard Mofe-Damijo play the role of Segun Kadiri on Checkmate.
Richard Mofe-Damijo
Image Credit: CelebAfrica Blog
Come on, you remember Checkmate now! Okay, let me "refresh" your memory (*clears throat and starts singing*):

 Oh eba, Oh eba! 
When shall I see dodo? (Ireti give us food o) 
When shall I see ila and egusi?
 I will never forget pomo!” 

Now, do you remember?! Ha, you better! But then again, RMD’s role was for “Segun” not “Nnamdi”, so we are back to square one, i.e. why Nnamdi fascinates me.  I think it may also have to do with the fact that the equivalent of Nnamdi in Yoruba is ‘Tunde (specifically, Babatunde).  Having prematurely mentioned Tunde, let’s see what name pops up next.....


4.   Tunde: Surprise, Surprise! Or maybe not! (I did mention Tunde just now, didn’t I?) I really don’t have much to say about this name because it is in the same category as Nnamdi, i.e. it brings to mind “Tall, dark and handsome.”  Plus, it is a very common name. Don’t you know someone named Tunde?

5.  Adamo: I pronounce it “Ah-Dah-Mo.” How very UNhelpful was that?! LOL! Okay, the point is that the “Mo” part is pronounced like the Mo in “MORE.”  Why is this name on the list? Well, for just one random reason, i.e. a Hausa lady who used to braid my hair as a child had that name (and she did a pretty good job too, might I add).  I have never met anyone else with that name though.




6.   Sule:  Okay, I really debated on whether or not to add this name to the list for fear of offending folks.  But this is not in any way meant to be offensive. (GREAT! Now, I have people on the defensive!) Anyway, Sule is a very common name for…..gatemen/meyguards (for whatever reason).  I don’t plan to name any of my children this name because I put it in the same category as Kasali (Okay, I just cheated.  I just snuck Kasali into the list, making it “11” names, not “10,” but who’s going to flog me? *sticks out tongue…yet again!*)

7.  Mairo:  I cannot remember exactly when I first heard this name, but it had to be when I was in primary school (*sarcastically*: “How accurate!”) and I do not know what part of Nigeria this name comes from, but for some reason it stuck in my mind as an interesting name.


8.   ‘Tokunbo (or ‘Toks for short, right?!):  This name seems to feature in a lot of Nigerian books I have read (or Yoruba movies I have watched).  In the said books, ‘Toks was usually some janded kid with a British accent (or American accent) from apparently living “overseas” for some years and who eventually came back to Nigeria for primary or secondary school (to return later, I suppose!)  Of course “Tokunbo” is a Yoruba name referring to the fact that the child was born overseas, so I suppose the parents want to announce it to everyone (*smh*).   Just out of curiousity, I wonder what name(s) you would give a child born in Ghana or Togo… (*laughing hard*)…I’ll  leave that to you to decide…


9.  Adesuwa: The Adesuwas I have known over the course of my life (see story…*yawns*) are usually (emphasis on “usually”) light-skinned and pretty. Just my own experience sha…


10. Simbi (What?! Number 10 already?!) Last, but not the least (you know I just had to say that), the name “Simbi” is on this list for several reasons.  Number one, I remember that one of my primary school (do you notice a trend here? References to primary school are quite prevalent on this list…Hmm….) textbooks started out in Chapter 1 with a picture of a boy and a girl saying (respectively): “I am ALI, I am SIMBI” (and ended with “Goodbye ALI, Goodbye SIMBI”).  I have never met anyone called Simbi though.  And by the way, what is the full name? Is it Simbiatu like the name of the late wife of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola or are there other variations of this name? Please share other variations you know.

And of course, that’s the end of the list (but not of this post). Now, time for some music!

Featured Artiste: Ogecha

In the spirit of fascinating names, the featured artiste for today is OGECHA.
Ogecha
Image Credit: ReverbNation
Now, I have to say this: she has the potential to be a great gospel artiste.  I don’t say that very often, except I mean it.  And I mean it.  She has a strong, powerful voice that just makes you “wake up!” You don’t believe me? Oya, listen for yourself now! I also think the particular genre of gospel music she has chosen really showcases her musical ability (though I would love to hear her sing other genres…See me talking as if I know her or music for that matter).  I will be featuring two songs (All for you, A Brand New Thing) from her current album “ALL FOR YOU.”

Ogecha, Album Cover for "ALL FOR YOU"
Image Credit: ReverbNation
My favorite one of the two is “All for You” because of the Nigerian flavor in that particular song, especially the language she sings in (Is that Igala? Please share if you know the language). See the details below (ENJOY):

Artiste's Name:  Ogecha

Real Name:  Diane Ogecha Haruna

Featured Songs:  All for you, A Brand New Thing

All for You:




A Brand New Thing:




MUSIC VIDEOS:

Ogecha has also released TWO music videos: a separate music video for each of her featured songs as seen here:




And also on YouTube:



Alright, that’s all folks! See ya larer!

Myne:

Thanks for visiting my blog (and falling in love with it...LOL!). I hope you visit often...

And yes, our educational system needs a lot of work, but we will get there...I really believe it!

I just found your blog today and I think I'm in love, lol. I love how you end each post with a musician spotlight too. 

The post on I see Gaps is so on point! Our educational system has a ways to go...

Myne Whitman

Adiya:

Thanks so much for stopping by (and commenting!)

Thanks for the compliments too, as per writing. I'm hoping my writing improves even more.

And as for the bag thing, emm...because you winked at me, I might consider doing it soon (hopefully, it won't be stale by then)

LDP:

As per Sule being used to describe dullards...Ha! That's so true...

LOL @ Ali being gay and Simbi being a tomboy. That, unfortunately is the reality of this generation.

And you're welcome! I will visit more often.

Loling at Sule cum Kasali. lol. I can never give my son any of those names too. Come to think of it, Sule is often ascribed to dullards sometimes.. u know that?
...and you remind of Alli and Simbi again today. Ali is a boy, simbi is a girl. lol. In this current dispensation, Ali can be gay and simbi can be a lady-boy... chei! This generation.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I appreciate you.

- LDP

I've never heard of Mairo oh. So that's the meaning to Tokumbo. Interesting.

This is such a new blog, but interesting! You write so naturally. Will def be following

And thanks SO much for your encouraging comment on my blog! Please do the bag thing nau? *wink*

Adiya

Thecornershopng

Your humour ehn!thank God you stopd by my blog! Imagine me missing out on all, plus am looking forward to discovering new gospel attiste xoxo

LOL! My humor, shay?! Imagine what you would be missing if you did not stop by *wink*

Stop by often ehn, so you'll "meet" more Naija gospel artistes.

Your blog is pretty cool too.  Thanks for stopping by (and stop by often).

Awww....Nnamdi and Tunde got me cracking up. Now, I would think of those two names and envision tall and handsome men carting me away to my fantasy...ok I digress.
Ogecha is definitely going to be a star. lol

He he he! Nnamdi and Tunde, shay? Sometimes I wonder what I drank the day I wrote this ... LOL! I will leave you wondering too *lips sealed* LOL at your fantasy ... Nnamdi can take you out to lunch, and Tunde can take you out to dinner ... *wink*
Yes, Ogecha is going places and it's not hard to see why.  She's just a bundle of talent! *Off to daydream some more*

akpos is an interesting name. i thought i was the only one it occured to that as the years go by, Nigerians name get more unique and complicated. most of the times, parents do not give their children traditional names, for example... uchechukwu (if igbo) or Kola (if yoruba). I found the post to be rather interesting.
Congrats on your site, it is really progressing and i am loving the new template.

Thanks a lot for compliments on my blog *blushing* ... To God alone be all the glory :-)

I am glad you found the post interesting ... so did I ... *chuckling*

What you said is quite true, and nowadays I think Nigerian parents are getting even more creative with their children's names ... I have seen some "combinations" I didn't even think were possible before ... It is well ... LOL! Thanks for stopping by!

One Nigerian name I like is Relentless...it reminds me of a tall dark Fulani lady...mmmmmm

Ofili

LOL! Okechukwu, how many times will I tell you that I am a Yoruba woman? *smh* All the kata-kata dis avatar dey cause sef ...

POST A COMMENT

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please Share.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...