No More Western Names! for African Kids

This book is a powerful call to reclaim African identity through the sacred act of naming our children. It demonstrates that a name is the fourth ontological dimension of a human being-a profound force that shapes destiny. Readers will discover the historical reasons behind the decline of traditional African names and the cultural consequences of favoring foreign ones. The book explores diverse naming traditions and categories from across the continent, offering both a cultural and spiritual perspective. Whether you are searching for an inspiring name for a newborn (see Chapter 6 for newly coined names) or seeking to understand the deep cultural power of authentic African names (Chapter 7), this guide empowers you to choose names rooted in our heritage, propelling our children forward with purpose and pride.

Shck Cǎmna' (Tchamna) is author of about forty books and co-author of over twenty applications for learning African languages, including Twi in Ghana, Wolof in Senegal, Chichewa in Malawi, Nko, Amharic, Swahili, Lingala, Kikongo, Duala, Basaa, Ewondo, Medumba, etc., not to mention a wealth of works in his mother tongue, Fe'efe'e, a Bamileke language also called nùugrave;fī, spoken in West Cameroon. To top it all off, he is the founder of a nonprofit called Resulam, resurrection of ancestral mother tongues.