From where did naming sons names like Njeri and Wambui originate from?

[bishopheahmund]

@Alpha Canis Majoris

According to my mum, hii maneno ya surname ni ya wazungu. Kitambo Kikuyu kids used to be identified by their mother’s name because most men had more than one wife.

If say a man is called Kamau wa Mwangi, each wife would bear him a Mwangi so kungekuwa na Mwangi wa Wanjiru (first wife), Mwangi wa Nyambura (second wife) etc.

My late guka’s ID actually had his mother’s name, because he had a brother from his other mother with the same name.

Incidentally, there was a time guka went to visit my uncle in school karibu amkose because he asked for him by his name but uncle alikuwa anatumia his surname (guka’s name). So aliporudi akaambia cucu ona marĩtwa maitũ nĩtwatunyirwo (they have taken even our names).

Basically hakukuwa na concept ya surname before mzungu (at least in our family).

Of course nowadays mtoto kuitwa na mamaye ni kusema ni wa single mother.

Makes sense now

[magreb]

@Yunomi

I think I would change it as soon as I am able to do it. Kuna jina zingine ziko too girly kama Njeri. Kama ni Watiri or Kanini I would not feel the need to change it. Lakini Njeri, Wanjiku? Hiyo imezidi too much, ni three much!
Halafu there is the assumption about your mother when people hear your name. People will make conclusions about your mother even before they meet her. That’s the worst part:oops::eek::eek:

Wewe unasema njeri? Na ile siku utakutana na jamaa anaitwa Njoki utasema nini?:D:D:D

[Meria_Mata]

@ranny

call themselves

call themselves, thats the key word

[sitaki]

@Alpha Canis Majoris

According to my mum, hii maneno ya surname ni ya wazungu. Kitambo Kikuyu kids used to be identified by their mother’s name because most men had more than one wife.

If say a man is called Kamau wa Mwangi, each wife would bear him a Mwangi so kungekuwa na Mwangi wa Wanjiru (first wife), Mwangi wa Nyambura (second wife) etc.

My late guka’s ID actually had his mother’s name, because he had a brother from his other mother with the same name.

Incidentally, there was a time guka went to visit my uncle in school karibu amkose because he asked for him by his name but uncle alikuwa anatumia his surname (guka’s name). So aliporudi akaambia cucu ona marĩtwa maitũ nĩtwatunyirwo (they have taken even our names).

Basically hakukuwa na concept ya surname before mzungu (at least in our family).

Of course nowadays mtoto kuitwa na mamaye ni kusema ni wa single mother.

just out of curiosity in the example above, how comes the father is kamau wa mwangi, isntead of kamau wa (the mother’s name), also how comes the likes of ngugi wa thiongo who try hard to identify with the culture don’t carry the mother’s name

[Doc_Oga]

We Kikuyus are a matriachial society hata my Dad usually refers Himself as wa Wangui especially akiwa angry and wants to stress a point hata mimi nimejipata nikitumia my Moms name for the same very reason.

[Meria_Mata]

@Doc Oga

refers Himself

mbona hamushiki hio point,
ANAJIITA.

[system]

@sitaki

just out of curiosity in the example above, how comes the father is kamau wa mwangi, isntead of kamau wa (the mother’s name), also how comes the likes of ngugi wa thiongo who try hard to identify with the culture don’t carry the mother’s name

I was trying to highlight his father’s name. Of course he’d probably be Kamau wa Muthoni or something.

Btw ata WhatsApp group ya my mom and her siblings wameiita Nyũmba ya <cucu’s name>

[Meria_Mata]

@Alpha Canis Majoris

Nyũmba

Nyumba niya mutumia
Thingira niguo wa Muthuuri.
uka ngurute kirira

[Meria_Mata]

@Alpha Canis Majoris

Btw ata WhatsApp group ya my mom and her siblings wameiita Nyũmba ya <cucu’s name>

uri waigwa nyumba ya Gikuyu, no never, iitagwo nyumba ya Mumbi

[sitaki]

@Alpha Canis Majoris

I was trying to highlight his father’s name. Of course he’d probably be Kamau wa Muthoni or something.

Btw ata WhatsApp group ya my mom and her siblings wameiita Nyũmba ya <cucu’s name>

ok, interesting to learn - so the actual name was the fathers name but the assumed or rather the aka was from the mother - because it seems the fathers name was still carried forward in the case above to name the sons

[vuja_de]

@Bhai

Usilete ujuaji akianguka kwa balcony, he was from nyahururu

Babake alikuwa mKale wa Baringo. Just check his facial features, utaona.

[Bhai]

@vuja de

Babake alikuwa mKale wa Baringo. Just check his facial features, utaona.

Mkale was one of wenye walijitokeza but kazi sio kuzaa Bali ni kulea

[system]

@Yunomi

@Meria Mata and other cultural anthropologists wa kutoka Mt Kenya hebu mtuambie. (1)Where did this come from? Is it old? Maybe it is old tu ni vile nowadays everybody must have at least 3 names.
Nowadays this thing is very rampant but when I was in school in the 90s it was rare.
(2)Do Luo and Kamba community do this?
When I was little single mothers used to name their sons after their grandfather or even choose a random Kikuyu male name such as Maina Karanja etc etc
(3)Those male members who have a girl name, how do you feel about it?

Sio boys pekee,even gals from a singo mum family status huitanishwa na jina ya mama yao …like Muthoni Njeri,Njoki wa Wambui hivyo hivyo

[inzhener_otmetka]

@bishopheahmund

I never disputed that fact! Learn to read and comprehend what I meant is the parentage not circumstances leading to his death ! Donge?

The dad was allegedly a Kale…

[KamauLM]

@inzhener otmetka

The dad was allegedly a Kale…

Huyo Mkale alikuwa babake wanafanana tu sana. Nimekumbuka watoto wa Bishop Wanjiru na Kamangu.

[dingoo_wa_ingoo]

Ni juu wakikuyu wana ufala.

[Okwonkwo]

Mugo wa Wairimu…

[system]

@Meria Mata

mbona hamushiki hio point,
ANAJIITA.

You are right Meria. There is a difference between a name being imposed on you at birth mpaka kwa birth certificate and naming yourself Wa Njeri etc but socially. TBH most of the guys kwenye nakaa call themselves by their Mum’s names…kwanza these ones have removed their names and go by the Mum’s name…wangirethi (Grace), wamushiko, wawanjiru, kanjeri etc. I actually forgot their real names.
However, I do not think any of the educated ones that carry their Mum’s surnames are embarrassed in this day and age. The family values broke down so some of their mums maybe daughters of single mums…so kutafta family tree ndiyo you get a man to name is not always applicable. BTW even daughters of single mums carry their Mum’s surname i.e my friend Natalie Njeri Wambui…

There is nothing much in a name…just that Kyuks love drama. Kaos, Luos, Luhyas etc name kids differently say after the seasons, after Raila kikiki etc.
Naming is a non ishu in my opinion.

[7_inches]

@Yunomi

Do Luo and Kamba community do this?

Luos, yes.

1. Achieng’ Oneko (the late)
2. Ambrose Adongo( the late)
3. Boniface Adoyo
4. Pollyns Ochieng Anyango(former mp Kasipul Kabondo)

[El_chapo101]

Cant relate…Only Kikuyus wa masingle mothers can relate.