Waala Naming of new born babies is one of the oldest and sensitive cultural practices of the people.
Once a child is born, a name is selected and given by the Head of the house. Couples may also consult religious leaders before conferring a name onto their new born. In times of uncertainties such as war, travelling, ill-health, disasters, etc where the lives of the couples may be in danger, a name was chosen before the child was born. It is also religiously advisable to choose a name before a child is born. One can also take a name at some stage in life after performing the necessary customary rites. For example, a hunter, farmer, warrior, chief, etc may take a name after attaining some status in life. A childโs name may also be influenced by the period, circumstance of birth, aspirations and dreams of the parents or family.
A waala name is their identity. Every name carries special meaning and once such name is called, it reminds the people (and the bearer) of the message behind it. These names are mostly proverbial statements depicting their identity, bravery, awareness of God, Death, Jealousy, barrenness, prayers, aspirations, among other circumstances surrounding the family (immediate/extended) and the waala state. For example, Abatanie/Abata(Abatanie uล fari bara- You bluff because it never happen to you), Botigi (Aล daaล Bษtigi, a Jinpษษha?- Humans are never satisfied with what they have), Dakpan/Kpankpili (Dakpankpili kuล woล saa- An old log never gets fully drenched by rain), Kunjokuun (Daubie Kuลjษkuuล – A brave son never fear death), Datige/Lankor (Datige Lankor kuล laล nyaga โ Trees may be thick in 100s but never will they have same root) etc are but few of the names.
To remember some dead relatives, their names are passed onto the new borns. Such a name is referred to as โYo sigraaโ.ย These names are often passed down as a result of the love and respect for those deceased relatives. It is also believed that some of our deceased/ancestors come back to earth after death. When they do, signs (closed eyes/mouth/palm, nonstop crying, etc) will show, some rituals/prayers are expected to be performed and the deceased/ancestorโs name re-given to the new-born. For example, your great grandfather by name Mwinibinbu who died over 50 years ago may come back into the family (in the form of a new baby). When that happened, signs will show, rituals will be performed and Mwinibinbu re-given to the new-born. This applied to all immediate dead persons of the family who were of good standing before death.
Names of animals are also given to human beings (rarely) to symbolise the speciality of those animals in the Waala setting. Descendants of great warriors, hunters, farmers are given such names.ย Some of these names include: Gbegni(Lion), Wษษ(elephant), Kuri(Tortoise), Waahu(Snake), Mwaanjie (Red Monkey), Kolinkoo, etc. Will talk later on this subject.
The advents of Islam, Christianity, and Western education have also given way for the modernisation of names of new borns in Wa.ย Most of the โnewโ Waala names are influenced by the Islam/Arabic names given to our wards. The Arabic names are translated into waali and given to the child. For Example, the names Rahama(Arabic) and Hena(waali) have the same meaning (ie favour) and can be given to one person(female). Abdul Subuur(Arabic) can be translated into waali as Kan-nyiri, and the child can bear even both names.ย It is now not surprising to find most of our Waala folks without their traditional names. They either bear only their Islamic/Arabic names or have a translated waali versions added to their Islamic names. This applies to the Christian names too.
Nevertheless, the indigenous Waala names are special and still very relevant to the people of the Kingdom. Here are a collection of some of these names and their meaning you would want to consider for your next child.
1. Abeenkyene/Tuurosung (Abษษnkyษne ka a suuhi tuuro โ Evil never succeed over good)
2. Abatanie (Abatanie uล fari bara – You bluff because it never happens to you)
3. Adaare (Adaarin na ta, ka ba baล daba – You will know men on the D Day)
4. Anbakpiire (Aล ba kpiire? – Who will not die?)
5. Anbanbeu/Banbeu (Aล muoล banbeu?-ย Who knows tomorrow?)
6. Botigi (Aล daang Bษtigi, a Jenpeeha? – Man is never satisfied with what he has)
7. Baalasaana/Saana/Biekpenaa (Baala saana Biษkpษnaa โ A weak stranger finds solace at the chief Palace)
8. Baalayeu (Baala yษu suล mwira): A weakling only helps in beating his/her sibling.
9. Badeu/Ayeba (Badeu yษla, ayษba): When it is about their house matter, they wonder.
10. Baliyau (Baliyau kuล bali mwama): One cannot pass by the boundaries of a farm without stepping on the gourd trees (creeping plants).
11. Bampuori/Bampuo (Bampuori Kun Bampuo): Know what is outside but not what is inside the stomach.
12. Dongmini/Domwini (Aล doลmini baล yieme?): Who has climb up to God to know who is a slave?
13. Belinbaa/Katung (Belinbaa katuล): Trying to deceive a dog is hard
14. Berikubo/Kubo (Naล bษri e tobo kubo) :ย Pay all ears to them.
15. Bilguo (Dondoma bilguo leu suha): The Enemy will beg you after failing to destroy you.
16. Biripuori (Dondษma, Biripuori saaล yษla):The Enemy will try to destroy you in your absence.
17. Bonkori (Boล maล kori a la veษla? ): Nothing is beautiful when it becomes old.
18. Borri (Borri maana ninsaala): What you wear defines you.
19. Bugla (Dakuษre baga bugulaara): A bachelor smiles after a soothsayer prophesy (especially when the gods promise him a wife)
20. Buon-nyira (Mwinikuubu buon nyira): Which of Godโs favour is cheap to come by?
21. Bumbuura/Banbinbu (Bumbuura Banbinbu): Good preservation protects good seeds.
22. Buombeo (Buombeo la sagebeo): A bad call invites bad response.
23. Dabaga (Dabaga soลsษli, baล yษล kyษ boli): A garden lizard is too careless.
24. Dajuo (Dajuvuuraa kuล koล vaala/ Amaล vuuro Dajuo, uล vuuro vaala): When a situation(problem) is inviting another.
25. Dakore/Kunjaa/Gyaabie (Dakoษre jษra kuล gyaabie): A bachelor runs with no worries of carrying a child.
26. Dakpan/Kpankpili (Dakpankpili kuล woล saa): An old log never gets fully drenched by rain.
27. Dangaabu (Dangaabu tuoล yeli): Go early to be able to report.
28. Danyagre/Saangkuong (Danyagibeu Saaลkuoล): A bad root of the tree poison the water.
29. Datige/Lankor (Datige Lankor kuล laล nyaga โ Trees may be thick in 100s but will never have same root).
30. Dieng-baala/Kopea (Dieลbaalaย na kษpeษ): A weak man only clean around his in-lawโs house.
31. Doma/Badaguye (Doma yela, ba da guye): People are happy to welcome news(bad) concerning their enemies.
32. Sunkpana (Fuษliyogu Sunkpana or Sษusori Sunkpana):
33. Hambagnii (Hambagnii muni kuษล yilen yilen): The water under ‘Hambagnii’, is very clean. Its an idiom in waali which means that โno matter how beautiful your sister is, you will not marry herโ. In context, certain things are meant for others, not you.
34. Jingsung (Jiลsuล la gbieล): Financial stability brings Peace. When you have more resources, peace of mind comes in.
35. Joraa (A joraa kyษ aล waana): Fear something but it will still happen.
36. Jongari (Kataa yohu, Jongari): a Cobra will ride across a horse.
37. Jiga (To kparoo na bษliล jiga): Wearing someone else cloths will only deceive your back, you will soon return it.
38. Bamfoubu (Ka e deu ba yuno, baล fษษbu la): If your roof isnโt leaking, it is because of your skilful patching. Every house has problems; it is about how you manage yours.
39. Wonbeo/Yelbeo (Ka nษbeoล yelbeo, tobeoล maล wommaa): When you speak with bad intentions, a befitting response will be given
40. Kaabata (Ka abata kaลa, baล ka ba bamaaล):
41. Kaapuori (Kaapuori yelkpieลu): Look back and speak with strength.
42. Kandanbanbu (Kandanbanbu, ka a saลa pariyษ): Had I known, always at last.
43. Kanbuaraa: If I like it
44. Kanbanbe: If I know there
45. Kandoma/Saa (Kandoma so saa, aล maana o yoล): If my enemy owns rain, he would be prospering alone. Enemies are not God to decide what will happen in your life.
46. Kpeglaa (Kpegla suล daaลaa):
47. Saandunee (Kpiing-bogu na Saandunee): The deathโs grave will destroy the world.
48. Kantubayi (Sษbษษ, Kantubayi, baล na nyi ma): They(witches) can get me if i follow them out.
49. Kayari/Danbiibu (Kayari na danbiibu):
50. Kunjokuun (Daubie Kuลjokuuล): A brave son will not fear death.
51. Konnuori (Kษng nuori laari jeni): A hungry mouth takes in anything.
52.ย Konkoree longa (Kษลkoree lษลa, ka saa nuล yษ o tala ko/wa):
53. Kษnkyiinbu (Kษล kyiinbu).
54. Puola (Kษkษdapuola kuลlaล nyaga):
55. Saandiibu (Kuษribaala na saaลdiibu):
56. Langtuo (Langtuo kuล laล Jieลaa):
57. Lanjimbu (Lanjimbu kun laล tiaha): Gathered people may have different minds/thoughts.
58. Lankuori (Lankuori kuลlaล diibu): Same table, different agenda.
59. Libiri (Libiri veษla kyษ kษล daalii): Money is sweet but has no stem.
60. Mani (Mani gaลbu daari baล nyuuruu): Itโs the day the ocean overflows, that people drink it water.
61. Gaanaang (Mwini binbu Gaanaaล): Godโs judgement surpasses any mortal chief.
62. Mwindingu/Nunbila (Mwindiลu, nunbila, ebila): Godโs way, He does what he want.
63. Maali/Namaali (Namaali nie Maali e minga): You do somebody, you do yourself.
64.ย Mwini/Binbu/Mwinibinbu (Naaลmine binbu kuล baล wiri) What God has put together, nobody can put asunder,
65. Duoho/Duoso (Duohisuล na pelpuo): A good news gladdens the heart.
66.ย Mugibu (Saa tษ duษ, na maalI mugibu):
67. Mwennie/ลmennie/Maalisung (Naaลmini nie maalisuล ): Good Samaritan does Godโs work.
68. Mwinibalonno (Mwini yeng ba lonno): God is not in a hurry.
69. Najieri (Najieri kun dugi salma): No matter your status (even a chief), his soup wonโt be prepared with Gold.
70. Tiferee (Niลbaala yษla tifษrษษ): matters of the poor are always a burden to himself.
71. Nundien (Kuษraa Nuล deล kuล deeล seu): One (farmer) who love to play, wonโt do it during rainy season.
72. Nyinbogu/Saang-oori (Nyinbogu Saaล-oori): A hole in teeth cannot guarantee good chewing. When your teeth are bad, chewing becomes difficult.
73. Sendeu (Pogibeu Sendeu): A bad wife commits adultery with her husband family members. A bad wife is capable of destroying her marital home.
74. Buriyela (Pusaanee buriyษlaย ):
75. Kuurii ( Sษrekuurii kuล jษ naa): A stone by the roadside, does not recognise who a chief is.
76. Saanguo (Saanguo saaล ba miลa)
77. Saantiin (Saantiiล kun saan kubiri)
78. Sanga/Sangataabu (Saลa taabu kong tiieล): When your time is up, no medicine can cure you.
79. Saanpie (Sa yoษre na saaลpie): A protracted/terrestrial rain may destroy the roof
80. Seseu (Sesษuล naล daara, saa naane): It is not windy, not rainy yet.
81. Siibu (Nyogesuล la tuoล siibu):
82. Sori/Kpana (Sษu sori, suล kpana):
83. Sobuun (Sษbuun) Witch fire
84. Suo (Sie suo, gre-ลmaara):ย A knife around the waist can easily cut the waist.
85. Tanbuhe (Tanbuhe kun furi vuori): An improperly mixed sand cant close an opening(of a muddy house).
86.ย Tangdagre/Suuri (Tandagree kun jaa suuri): We donโt pick mould sand in anger.
87. Tobie/Buondau (Tobie buondau): To called somebodyโs child a stick.
88.ย Tonintaa (Bikpiiba yษla tษniลtaa): When it comes to the orphan issues (problems), they pay lip service.
89. Toma (Tษma deu kun e kaari): Donโt be boastful in your colleague motherโs house.
90. Topuo /Konbambo (Tษpuo kษn bambo):
91. Topie/Saatopie (Saaล tษ pie, pie miลย ย baga): The rain does nothing to the rock.
92. Pelpuo (Yษlsuล/Duohisuล na pelpuo): Good deeds bring happiness
93. Yienbogu (Yienbogu na dansie): A night pothole, dislocates waist.
94. Maannaa (Yษribu maali Naa/ Yษribuล maana Naa):
95. Jengbeo (Jengbeu kuล buล Naa): A poorly roofed palace, cannot host a Chief.
96. Bongaamwini/Angaamwini (Boลgaaลmini/Angaamwini):
97. Gyumihiย la nyiibu(Gyumihi)
98. Saantuma (Saantuma kpษ nagihibu):
99. Gyesuuri/ Jesuuri (Gyษsuuri maali le bษna):
100. Gaลeteษ (Bun-egraa kun gaล Mwini, gaลi teษ): A flying animal (bird) cannot overpass God, can only rise above trees.
101.Daulee (Dau lee ka buษ do): It is when a tree falls that a goat can climb it.
102. Saanye (Dunee Saanyษ..): The world has gone bad.
103. Jinenuba/Jenedeme (Jinenuba, Suล neล niลe):
104. Kankauhamuuhi (Kankauhamuuhi , kyษ aล beษra Dondoma ): Even when am cutting grasses, it will still pain my enemy.
105. Nabagri (Nabagri kun maali wษษ): Even in a Kingโs shrine, elephant isnโt used as sacrifice.
106. Mara (Maali dimii sษmara):
107. Bapiyela (Ninbaala Bapiyela, tenmaaluu):
108. Kongjulingu (Kษล juliลu Kun liล wษษ): A deep water cannot drown an elephant
109. Kolibogu (Kolibษgu kuล kari eu): A hole in a stream/river, cannot scare away a crocodile
110. Duadana (Kataa kuoล, duadana):
111. Saanbaninge (Saanbaniลe fiilijoลa): A Frowning face(s) on the blind will go unnoticed.
112. Konjulingu (Kongjuliลu,Bibaala kuล sigi): When a water is deep, a weakling cannot dive
113. Gbangu/Pirise (Buล koree gbama/gbaลu Pirisษ/ Joลpoi gbaลu kuล faari nyeษ):
114. Kyuunii (Kyuunii/kyuundau maalipogiba ): Shea nuts prosper women. Women gain a lot economically from shea nuts.
115. Mwan-gbuli (Mwangbuli kuล baล puo): One cannot know what is inside a closed calabash.
116. Karikpieriba (Yidaandabeu na kari kpieriba ): A bad landlord/leader only chases away his neighbours.
117. Tiihinaa (Dagau tiihi naa):ย A tendaana/Landlord supports the chief
118. Gbangu (Wษษ gbangu kuล kpษ laa ): An Elephant skin can never a bowl.
Other names may have
direct meaning as in;
119. Bundaana (Rich man)
120. Nankpaana(Hunter)
121. Tendaana(Earth god)
122. Sungnuma (Good deeds is sweet)
123. Sungsuma (Good deeds is good)
124. Peelisung (Start well)
125. Naatasung (Good intention)
126. Junoo (Good luck)
127. Daukyebile (No small man)
TOPPIE SAATORPIE
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