| Pronunciation | [adʑᶣoa] |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Language(s) | Akan languages |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Akan |
| Derivation | dwo 'peace' |
| Meaning | born on a Monday; |
| Region of origin | Akan people |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Adjoa, Adjua, Adjuba, Juba |
| Related names | |
Adwoa is a given name used for women born on Monday in Western Africa, particularly Ghana and some parts of Togo, southern Benin and Ivory Coast. [1] Day names are a cultural practice of the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. It is actually practiced by all Akan (i.e. all the various Akan subgroups) people who follow traditional customs. [2] People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Adwoa has the appellation Badwo or Akoto meaning peace. [3] Thus, females named Adwoa are supposed to be peaceful. [3] [4]
In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Adwoa is originated from Koyayuda and from the Lord of Life Firmament deity of the day Monday. [4] [3] Females born on Monday are known to be calm, peacemakers and protectors. They tend to be nurturing and achieve a balance between strength and compassion. [4] [2] [3]
Day names in Ghana have varying spellings. This is so because of the various Akan subgroups. Each Akan subgroup has a similar or different spelling for the day name to other Akan subgroups. [3] [5] Adwoa is spelt Adwoa by the Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Bono and Ashanti subgroups while the Fante subgroup spell it as Adjoa, Ajua, or Ajuba. [3] [6]
In the Akan culture and other local cultures in Ghana, day names come in pairs for males and females. The variant of the name used for a male child born on Monday Kwadwo. [2] [5]
Most Ghanaian children have their cultural names in combination with their English or Christian names. Some notable people with such names are:
