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GENDER IN IGBO NAMES
A substantial number of Igbo females bear names associated with Chi, `the Igbo personal life force', while equally a substantial number of males bear names associated with Chas compound form, Chukwu (Chi ukwu) translated as `big Chi'. We refer to all these as Chi names. (However, where essential distinctions are drawn between the two, we refer to them as Chi names or Chukwu names respectively).1
Chi/Chukwu names (discussed in this article) are, however, not distinctive in being gender-specific in Igbo. Most names in Igbo are gender-specific. In fact the gender of the bearer of a name is the one bit of information we usually get from hearing an Igbo name. Our sampling shows that gender-specific names constitute more than 90 per cent of Igbo names. Apart from Chi/Chukwu nominals like Oko (`male'), Mgbo (`female'), Nwoke (male, man), Nwaanyi (female, woman) also specify gender, especially in market-day names. For example, see Table 1.
In Igbo culture males are usually associated in naming with issues such as: deities, e.g. Ala (earth deity), Kamalu (thunder deity), Anyanwu (sun deity), etc.; religious objects, e.g. Qfo, Ogu (symbols of innocence); mysterious phenomena, e.g. Onwu (death); concepts of greatness, e.g. Duru (Greatman of Utility), Osu (devotee), Eze (king), Nze/Ozo (revered titles), etc; natural physical objects, e.g. Ugwu (hill), Mmiri (water), Oku (fire), etc.; animals, e.g. Age (leopard, Enwe (monkey), Mgbada (antelope), etc.; significant social entities, Oha (the people), Ibe (peer group), Like (age grade), Mba (the people), etc.
Females are usually associated in naming with dainty issues, more virtuous qualities, and more positive phenomena and concepts. These include: Mma (goodness/moral acceptability), Uru (usefulness), Aku (wealth), Uju (abundance), Anuri (happiness), Ure (conduct that deserves attention), Ola (ornament).
Only a tiny percentage of Igbo names (less than 10 per cent are gender-neutral, borne by both males and females. They include the following:
Nkasiobi (`Consolation')
Nkemjika (`What I have is greater')
Olieanya (`Expectation/Hope')
Qzoemena (`May another not happen')
Oguguo (`The consoler/Pacifier')
Nkemdirim (`Mine should remain for me')
Some Oma (good) names:
Uzooma (`Prosperous access')
Ekeoma (`Good Eke')
Obioma (`Benevolence')
THE RELIGIOUS CONCEPT OF CHI IN IGBO
Chi is an enigmatic concept in Igbo, and this has given rise to various interpretations and translations of its meaning by scholars. Chi...