EHUGBO/AFIKPO NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS
According to AFIKPO TODAY MAGAZINE of 1994,
Mr. J. B Oko wrote on the topic ETYMOLOGY OF EHUGBO NAMES. I will be dropping some names and their meanings according to the magazine, page 65.
The editor of the magazine also said
“In Ehugbo the personal names of the first two sons and two daughters are by custom pre- determined even before the formalization of a marriage between young man and his fiancee. The first son must bear the name of the man’s father while the second son must bear the name of the wife’s father. The same applies to the female children. After these four, the couple would then be free to name their children after any relatives, friends or even themselves.”
ABAGHA – Warrior, war contender
ABANI – Wealthy and generous, boast and gives
ABO , ABOMA – Wooden basket, Associated with ill- luck in child bearing
AGADA (OCHE) – Seat. The name came from Nde Okpani Ndibe. last Omezue Nnali Mbe. Agada’s father was responsible for carrying ibe nwachi’s Stool. This earned him the name AGADA.
AGBII (NDI NWA or AGBII) – Pity, This name is given to indicate constant losses in child birth.
AGBO – Hook sinker, not easily suppressed
NOTE: More names and meanings coming shortly
AGBUM / AGBUMEGEDE – Friendship. It is not Afikpo. Derived from lgbo Ekwurckwu in the Cross River State. The Original form is “Agom”
AGHA / AGHAIYI – Battle. lt is a name given to those born in war time. Crocodile,
AGU – Tiger. The name indicates that the reincarnator
was brave in his previous
AGWO – Snake: This name implies danger. Poisonous
fieree. fearful.
AJA / AJAGIKE – Praise worthy, Hardworking
AJUKA / AJUKAGINWA – No one refuses a child (As a gift from the gods)
AKA / AKANELETE – Be on the look out and see what the future will be. The name is given when there is a frequent loss of ofispring in infancy.
AKANI – Old and kind
AKAMA – Symbol of beauty
AKPU / AKPUNWOKE / AKPUNWANYI – Big Oak tree. It is the biggest tree in the forest. Afikpo belief is that human beings evolved from the “Akpu” tree.
ALAZU / ALAZUWA – Dying and coming back to life by way of reincarnation.
ALI / ALIEZI – Earth generally Farm-yard. Back yard farm.
ALUTA / ALU – To mamy; marriage
ALUM – Ferrying in the river. There was an Hausa man
bearing this name in the early 19th century at
Amaozara Beach who used to ferry people, across the river. So Amaozara picked it up. Otherwise “Alum” connotes to mary me in Afikpo dialect
ARUA – Weapon of war, spear
ANAGHA / ONU- AGHA – Signifies entry into war theatre. Some call it Anagha, others say Onagha omitting “u” for convenience. Born at the beginning of civil war.
ANWARA – Aggression. The Efiks have “Anwa” for lion. As we borrow some names from the Cross River, most of the times we modity them. “Anwirinwa” for example, is sharp sandpaper -like leaf. The name thus indicates qualities of bravery of the Lion.
MORE NAMES COMING SOON 🔜🔜