BY SOUMANOU SALIFOU

In the opening statement of her confirmation hearing to hopefully become the first African American justice, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson stated, with her head straight and looking into the camera: “When I was born here in Washington, my parents were public school teachers, and to express both pride in their heritage and hope for the future, they gave me an African name: ‘Ketanji Onyika, which they were told means “lovely one.” (According to Politico, a U.S. online news source, the name was chosen from several names sent by the now-famous judge’s aunt who was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa at the time of her niece’s birth.)

Ketanji Onyika! That sounds like music coming out a balafon—an ancient African music instrument—played by an African music prodigy. It resonates with me as an African—as I am sure it did with others—even beyond racial lines, especially coming from the majestic temple of our democracy. (The Capitol, the home of our legislature, like the White House, was erected starting in 1792 and 1793 with the blood and sweat of our enslaved ancestors who were used as free laborers to carry and polish the rough stones.)

Hearing such a statement of pride from one of the finest judges in our country, I couldn’t help remembering how people who look like me are currently being discriminated against in Ukraine, being denied the right to step on a bus to flee the war zone like other refugees. Closer to home, it reminded me how easily we can be fatally shot in the back when, scared and knowing what’s next, we run away from the police; how a Derek Chauvin can sit on our necks and squeeze life out of our bodies, and when we march in protest, a man who arrived at our house, the White House, by the crooked means we know, can threaten to crush us.

Ketanji means “lovely one,” the judge told us today. Yes, in the vastly rich culture of Africa, names have meanings, not unlike other cultures. Over the years, we have posted several articles on this website about African names and their meaning. In one of these articles, Dr. Albert Tingbé-Azalou, an internationally acclaimed Beninese anthropologist, tells us that “the name expresses the reality of the individual. It is like a part of the individual’s body. They are interdependent. The name is proportionate to the bearer who gives it a meaning, who influences it and is, in turn, influenced by it.” The renowned researcher stresses: “There is a physical and moral connection of sorts between the individual and his/her name. Therefore, the wording of the name calls to mind the individual’s way of being and way of acting.” How this member of the extended black family soon to be a member of the highest court in the land lends credence to the researcher’s statements!

America, African names are beautiful and meaningful. You may want to choose from the few that I am suggesting to you at the end this article.

It’s hard for me not to take Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and her parents’ pride personally, in the 28th year of my efforts to (humbly) educate America about African culture. So, allow me to share with you that after my oldest son and his wife named my grandson the way they chose, I arranged a naming ceremony of my own back home in Benin. In the rather elaborate ceremony which climaxed into a big feast, my grandson solemnly received the name I chose: Veeyon, which in our native language Fon literally means “a child is good.” It’s my way of stating how important it is for a child to be good to his parents.

My Veeyon is mixed like Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s beautiful children. They and millions like them in our country connect both worlds, holding on their frail shoulders the mighty responsibility expressed by mother and auntie Kentaji in the conclusion of her confirmation hearing: “I have dedicated my career to ensuring that the words engraved on the front of the Supreme Court building — “Equal Justice Under Law”—are a reality and not just an ideal.”

A few African names with their meanings

Igbo names, from Nigeria

Udokanma                                          Peace is more important

Uchenna                                             God’s will

Chindinma                                          My god is good

Obiageli (usually a girl name)         Born in wealth

Obichukwu                                         The heart of God

Lingala names, from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Mwinda                                             Light

Kimia                                                 Peace

Elikia                                                  Faith, hope

Kitoko                                                Beautiful

Fon names, from Benin

Huefa                                                 Peace in the home

Vidolé                                                 A child is wealth

Bidosessi or Sessi in short             It’s all in destiny’s hands

Alihonu                                               Given to a child born during a travel

Yoruba names, from Nigeria

Omolola (girl)                                    A child is wealth

Iyabo (girl)                                         Mother has come back (born after the                                                                                                        death of an old family member

Omotunde                                         A child has come back

Ayotunde                                          Joy has come

Kabye names, from Togo

Lelenda (girl)                                      Happiness

Lèlouyo (girl)                                      Solidarity

Warou                                                  Winner

Essozinma                                          Destiny is in God’s hands

These names and their meanings were graciously provided by: Amara Chindima Ezedeniru (Igbo, Nigeria); Steve Ogah (Yoruba, Nigeria); Tresor Tankwey Mapaka Lingala, the Demoratic Republic of Congo); Luc Abaki (Kabye, Togo); Bouraima Salifou (Fon, Benin).

____________

Soumanou Salifou is the founder/publisher of The African, the premier African magazine published in the United States dating back to 1994. With a foot in Africa and the other in the United States, the pioneering magazine serves as a bridge between the United States and Africa with both online and print versions. It brings to the reader original reporting about U.S.-Africa relations in the areas of politics and business, with an emphasis on the historical and cultural bonds between Africa and Black America. Salifou, an award-winning reporter, majored in African studies and American civilization from several African universities, and is an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.