A huge majority of diaspora Africans carry names that derive from someone else's ancestry. From Alaska to the tip of South America, these slave names abound, as they do in Europe, Asia and Australia. Africa, our Motherland, has not escaped this tendency, as millions carry European, Arab and Asian names. Indeed, such is the confusion that many are hard-pressed to distinguish these slave names form those that truly honour our authentic ancestry and ancestors. There are obvious reasons for this, some of which are historical, some social and others psychological. This certainly warrants further exploration but on an entirely different platform. This page is offered solely as a service to those who wish to become more knowledgeable about Authentic African Names and those who's consciousness has progressed to such a level as to make them wish to peel off their slave labels.
Recognizing that this is a sensitive topic for some, we wish to state emphatically that we mean no disparagement but do feel compelled to honour our ancestry without reservation, failing which we are but lost sheep at the mercy of any "shepherd" who comes along.
Here is a sampling of Authentic African Names in no particular order:
Nkosana, Imhotep, Chisulo, Menes, Fari, Dalitso, Molefe, Upendo, Ngozi, Kete, Adongo, Asante, Farai, Nefertiti, Fatsani, Deti, Dumi, Kabelo, Andela, Kagiso, Kgosi, Bankole, Bandile, Noxolo, Balogun, Segun, Namuro, Obi, Candace, Rogo, Obama, Kwame, Dankay, Toure, Ochan, Sisi, Mbamalu, Kuol, Namdi, Jomo, Azikiwe, Kargbo, Kenyatta, Madiba, Matwawana, Otti, Drogba, Mandela, Manduli, Sipho, Kuti, Manu, Nyallay, Rono, Chol, Thon, Bagambiire, Manani, Essien, Anikan Adebayo, Nyandeleiko, Umi, Abiola, Adeniyi, Modupe, Ife, Adika, Abayomi, Ajayi, Adom, Okeke, Wurie, Mirambo, Atu, Abebe, Osaze, Ata, Ayo, Azizi, Femi, Asiedu, Tunde, Fela, Fofana, Bobo, Okpara, Chike, Chinelo, Hawa, Shaka, Chinua, Bupe, Chukwu, Acheampong, Maduka, Chima, Sekani, Femi, Olu, Dut, Ebo, Aduke, Thambo, Dulani, Sipliwo, Gari, Gamba, Gogo, Jaja, Jojo, Juma, Kofi, Kojo, Kwasi, Seku, Lisimba, Liu, Bikila, Lumo, Boabang, Morwa, Jok, Lumumba, Mesi, Ademu, Gwala, Mpho, Bonolo, Owupele, Lerato, Lungile, Anika, Sepopo, Malawa, Manu, Mawuli, Mensah, Kanika, Minkah, Kanika Moyo, Mpenda, Sigele, Tuda, Sizwe, Roble, Zira, Zigza, Yawo, Ama, Mudala, Mwai, Oba, Obafemi, Deng, Koroma, Obadele, Ochieng, Okechuku, Simba, Thabiti, Abeo, Fola, Thema, Rogo, Oseye, Adut, Jebeh, Ngozi, Chipo, Amadi, Anunoby, Rufaro, Matoe, Koroma, Unika, Amer, Themba, Nomble, Lerato, Kijani, Mandisa, Kissa, Kamau, Ipyana, Omolara, Bem, Lola, Orgi, Dada, Gyasi, Kojo, Moyo, Umi, Baruti, Afua, Kamara, Iyastu, Keh, Tunu, Olutunu, Tuboku, Bami, Magai, Kelleh, Sheba, Adjoa, Esi, Dayo, Zyri, Kwende, Ayen, Njoba, Enitan, Ife, Kya, Zulu, Zola, Zawadi, Zalika, Chiedza, Oluchi, Alek, Deng, Bokele, Chuot, Wek, Gelila, Ayor, Abla, Nyanyai, Ampim, Segun, Selassie, Poplampo, Kapeni, Akeeh, Ghedi, Unkele, Zikomo, Ujana, Tiziri, Lunja, Juba, Achor, Haya, Dumbuya, Uba, Bangura, Momoh, Kaunda, Lumumba, Toure, Aker, Ochan, Karenja, Patobita, Baba, Santigi, Sahr, Mansa, Nzinga, Manafa, Jetta, Vandana, Tumoe, Chihombori, Fofana, Aidoo, Poplampo, Dube, Folami, Adjua, Dankay, Kete, Timbo, Fela, Ladi, Bansi, Madiba, Masani, Musoke, Okella, Zo, Amara, Titi, Bindi, Ola, Sama, Samba Dulani, Garang, Tamment, Kafele, Ulan, Ziri, Ahar, Damya, Igider, Chipo, Mandla, Mbali, Ntombi, Rudo, Zola, Tumelo, Sifiso, Yamide, Amma, Ayodele, Chima, Ladi, Bandele, Kaunda, Zim, Santigi, Kojo, Kwesi, Kwamena, Poplampo, Tola, Kelleh, Pokou, Imhotep, Demba, Abantu, Quao,
Coming soon: links to many more Authentic African Names.
Let us each give of our talents, our energy and our resources for the betterment of Africa and all her children.
Let us all commit to work effectively for our global prosperity and that of Africa, our ancestral homeland