Every
child, even in the royal houses, takes a first name after the week-day
[Footnote:
Men. Women.
Adwo (Monday-born) ... Kajo (Cuddjo) ... Adwoa.
Bena (Tuesday-born) ... Kwabina ... Abiena.
Wuku (Wednesday-born) ... Kwako ... Akudea.
Tan (Thursday-born) ... Kwao ... Ya (Yawa).
Afio (Friday-born) ... Kofi (Coffee) ... Afua.
Amu (Saturday-born) ... Kwamina ... Amma.
Ayisi (Sunday-born) ... Kwasi ... Akosua (Akwasiba).
Monday is the first day of the Oji week. The Sunday-born is corrupted to
'Quashy,' well known in the United States; hence also the 'bitter cup' of
_guassia_-wood. The names of the days are taken from the seven Powers
which rule them. Kwa-Si would be Kwa (=_akoa_, man, slave), and Ayisi (a
man) belonging to Ayisi. Amongst the Accra people the first-born are
called Tete (masc.) and Dede (fem.), the second Tete and Koko, and the
rest take the names of the numerals. So we have Septimus, Decimus, &c.] of
its birth, and strangers after that on which they land. Cameron, who
shaved his hair, was entitled 'Kwabina Echipu'--Tuesday Baldhead.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119