SOME LUVALE FORENAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS.
The Luvale are one of the ethnic groupings in Zambia. They are closely related to the Luchazi, Mbunda and Chokwe peoples. The Luvale people are traditionally located in the Upper Zambezi area which is the North Western Province of Zambia and the South-Eastern area of Angola.
In Luvale culture, personal names were not chosen at random; they were usually given to children according the different circumstances and events that surrounded the birth of the child, these include; manner of the birth, happiness, fertility, bad occurrences, order of birth and so on. In some instances forenames were given to infants in memory of a dead family member such as a sibling, parent or grandparent. Sometimes the characteristics that parents observed from the child at birth also played a role in determining the name.
Some of the common Luvale names are as follows:
ZANGI: This name means “Love”. Naming a child “Zangi” was a way of expressing the importance of love.
WANA: This name means “Gift”. It was given as a way for parents to express gratitude for being gifted a child.
JILA: This name means “on the way”. This name was given to a child who was born while the mother was in transit or on her way to somewhere.
LIKOJI: This name means “Grace”
KUTEMBA: This name refers to someone who is proud of their beauty. The name encourages self-confidence.
MASOJI: This name means “tears”. This name was given to a child born at a time when people were mourning the death of a family member.
KAHILU: This name means “one who has returned”. In Luvale culture , a child born after the preceding one died was named “Kahilu”. So for example if a mother gave birth to a child who died and soon after conceived again and gave birth to a child, the newly born child would be named “Kahilu”. It was believed that such a child was a replacement for the one who died.
KASULASONGO: This name means “the very last on the line”. This name was given to the child who the parents anticipated would be their last born. It was a way of indicating that this was the last child in their line of children.
CHIJIKA: This is the name given to a child who is born after twins.
KASOKA. This name means “house roofing expert”. This name was derived from the skill of thatching huts or building roofs for houses. Giving a child this name was a way of paying tribute to the forefathers of the child who were skilled in making roofs.
CHIPOYA: This name means “stretcher”. This name was given to express the character of someone who goes to great lengths to try and help other people.
CHIYAMBI: This name means “hunter/fisherman”. In some cases names were given based on an activity which someone’s ancestors were good at. In this case someone would be named “Chiyambi” in reference to the fact that they had an ancestor who was good at hunting/fishing.
CHITENGI: This names means “builder”. This named was derived from the skill of building things. A child would be given this name as a way of alluding to the fact that their forefathers were skilled builders.
SACHIWE: This name means “someone who gives a lot”
KAMANA. This name was given to a child who was born from a mother who took long to conceive.
KASELA: This name was given to a baby who comes out of the mother’s womb with legs first.
MUNGOLE: This name means “persistent rain”. This name was given to a child who was born during the rainy season.
MUZALA: This name means “Season of hunger”. This name was given to a child who was born at the time when a calamity such as hunger had befallen the community.
SAKUWAHA: This name was given to a child born during times of good fortune.
KASEMUKA: This name was given to a child whose mother died after giving birth to the child.
CHISOLA: The name is derived from the verb “Kusola” which means pounding. It is a name that is given to a hard worker.
MUSOLE: The name is derived from a fruit bearing tree called “Musole”.
KAKOMA: This is a royal name which means to “sit on your own problems”. Traditionally, it was given to royalty (chiefs) because they are the ones who solve other people’s problems but don’t solve their own because they are the highest authority and no one can preside over them.
KAYOMBO: This name refers to being brave and strong. It is a name that expresses characteristics of a warrior.
CHILOMBELA: This name means “one who prays”
These are just a small selection of some Luvale forenames. Feel free to comment in the comment’s section below on the other Luvale forenames you know and their meanings.
(By Zambian Footprints)