Ashanti
Ashanti is an ancient Ghanaian tribe known for its abundance of didactic fairy tales and its fierce resistance against the British colonial intrusion.
Ashanti fought assiduously and with fluidity against a more equipped British army and gave them a run for their money.
The emblem of the Ashanti army was the porcupine. Like the porcupine who has the ability to shoot out quills at an enemy and grow them again, the soldiers of Ashanti army, when killed, were always replaced by others.
Ashanti Children and their ‘Day Names’
Ashanti children all have ‘day names’ which they bear when they are little. As they grow older, they sometimes change these names for their Christian names.
Whenever an Ashanti child is born, the parents of the new born baby name it after the day it is born.
Below are the ‘day names’ Ashanti parents give their children:
Sunday
A boy born on Sunday is called Kwasi while a girl born on Sunday is called Akosua.
Monday
An Ashanti boy born on Monday goes by Kwadwo. The girl on the other hand answers Adwoa.
Tuesday
A boy born on Tuesday is called Kwabena. An Ashanti girl born on Tuesday is called Abena.
Wednesday
While a boy born on Wednesday bears Kwaku, the girl bears Akua.
Thursday
An Ashanti boy born on Thursday answers Yao while an Ashanti girl born on Thursday is called Yaa.
Friday
An Ashanti boy given birth to on Friday goes by the name, Kofi. Remember the three prominent people with the name, Kofi? There was Kofi Awonoor, the poet; Kofi Anyidoho, another writer; and Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General.
An Ashanti girl born on Friday is given the name, Afua.
Saturday
Kwame is the name given to a boy born on Saturday while Ama is the name given to a girl born on Saturday.
Afternote
If more than one child in a family is born on the same day, additions are made to the name such as Nana-ama, or Awura-ama, or in the case of a third daughter, Mansa is added.