The Akan speaking peoples of Ghana West Africa are like most ethnic groups in that continent when it comes to names. The name gives a quick history of the person who carries it. Often the name services to tell when the child was born (the day or season) what the child’s destiny will require, and what family line the name comes from. It is a common practice in many communities to bestow names and titles to persons based on significant achievements or initiations into secret societies. The Akan names listed below are a simple tool for raising a person’s awareness of their personal heritage by identifying the day of the week that the child was born. When initiating a name change, the student should talk to parents and other relatives to better understand the reason for their birth name. The choosing of additional names should be based on what the person wishes as good character building concepts (example: a person of peace, a man of God, of noble promise, etc.)

The AKAN SPIRIT NAMES

DAY OF THE WEEK	MALE	FEMALE
MONDAY	KWADOW	ADOWA
TUESDAY	KWABANA	ABENA
WEDNESDAY	KWAKU	AKUA
THURSDAY	YAW	YAA
FRIDAY	KOFI	AFIE
SATURDAY	KWAMI	AMA
SUNDAY	KWASI	AKUSUWA

For more information about Ghana, visit http://www.panafest.org/home.html & http://www.ghanaweb.com/

A Snapshot History of Ghana
Ancient Ghana (4th - 13th Century): The Republic of Ghana is named after the ancient Ghana Empire of West Africa. The actual name of the Empire was Wagadugu. Ghana was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom. It was controlled by Sundiata in 1240 AD, and absorbed into the larger Mali Empire. (Mali Empire reached its peak of success under Mansa Musa around 1307.)

Geographically, the old Ghana is 500 miles north of the present Ghana, and occupied the area between Rivers Senegal and Niger. Some inhabitants of present Ghana had ancestors linked with the medieval Ghana. This can be traced down to the Mande and Voltaic people of Northern Ghana--Mamprussi, Dagomba and the Gonja.

Anecdotal evidence connected the Akans to this great Empire. The evidence lies in names like Danso shared by the Akans of present Ghana and Mandikas of Senegal/Gambia who have strong links with the Empire. There is also the matrilineal connection.

Gold Coast & European Exploration: Before March 1957 Ghana was called the Gold Coast. The Portuguese who came to Ghana in the 15th Century found so much gold between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta that they named the place Mina - meaning Mine. The Gold Coast was later adopted to by the English colonisers. Similarily, the French, equally impressed by the trinkets worn by the coastal people, named The Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire.

In 1482, the Portuguese built a castle in Elmina. Their aim was to trade in gold, ivory and slaves. In 1481 King John II of Portugal sent Diego d'Azambuja to build this castle. In 1598 the Dutch joined them, and built forts at Komenda and Kormantsil. In 1637 they captured the castle from the Portuguese and that of Axim in 1642 (Fort St Anthony). Other European traders joined in by the mid 18th century. These were the English, Danes and Swedes. The coastline were dotted by forts built by the Dutch, British and the Dane merchants. By the latter part of 19th century the Dutch and the British were the only traders left. And when the Dutch withdrew in 1874, Britain made the Gold Coast a crown colony.