Anthropos 90.1995: 109-132
Nyamwezi Names of Persons
Paul Schònenberger
Abstract. - In Tanzania the civil authority has not yet extended
its control over the names of the inhabitants. Their names still
enjoy uncurtailed freedom from redtapery. Names are given or
assumed by grown, thinking people mainly at the birth of a
child, or at taking up a new office or entering into a new state
of life. Thus names of persons give us a marvellous insight
into the thoughts, feelings, and cravings of the population.
The names of the Nyamwezi lay bare a wide panorama of the
mentality characteristic of that important Bantu people. [Tan
zania, Nyamwezi, names, name giving]
Paul Schonenberger, M. Afr.; since 1948 missionary in Tan
zania (Apostolic Vicariate of Tabora); training of catechists and
future priests; translation of Bible texts. Publications include:
Names for “God” Known and Used by the Wanyamwezi (An
thropos 56.1961); Moral Aspects of Some Nyang’wezi Beliefs
and Practices (Notes Documents 1966); Mahano Mufumbozi -
Friend in Time of Calamity (Anthropos 88.1993).
1. How Names are Given
1.1 A Dying Folklore Custom
1. Following an ancient tradition, the giving of
a name is embedded in the ritual of bringing a
newborn baby out into the open. This ritual is
called kufunya ng’wana, that means “To bring the
child outside.” About four or five days after the
birth (when the stump of the umbilical cord of the
baby has fallen off), the mother brings the baby for
the first time out of the home into the circle of rel
atives, neighbours, and friends who have gathered
there to congratulate the mother and to greet the
child. The father, sitting on a stool, receives the
baby on his knees. With happiness, he shows the
baby to the little assembly, and he acknowledges
the baby as being his offspring by giving him a
name. He may say: Kula, ng’wana wane! Ulabi
mbati (Grow up, my child, you will be so-and-so!).
2. This first name is called Una lya nhomba
which means “name of porridge.” Because of the
lack of better understanding, the baby, in his first
days, was not allowed to approach his mother’s
breast but had to be fed by liquid porridge made
by boiling millet or maize flour in water. People
erroneously thought that the mother’s milk, before
it had turned quite white, was fatal for newly
born babies. Because of this utterly wrong feeding,
many babies died.
3. Not only the father gives his child a name.
Among the relatives and friends may be well-
wishers with a lively mind and a gift for pleas
ant speech, who honour the newborn baby with
special names. They may vie with one another for
the most beautiful name. These names too will
be remembered in the family. After years, one of
these names may replace the first name.
4. The celebration of kufunya ng’wana was
embellished by the attending guests who enacted
dramatic spectacles. If the baby was a boy, men
performed masculine occupations, such as hunting
animals, cutting trees for building a house. If the
baby was a girl, women had to show feminine oc
cupations such as drawing water, cooking, clean
ing the pots .... All relaxed and had great fun, and
thanked the Creator for having made them families
of farmers in the midst of fertile fields.
Since Julius K. Nyerere became leader of the
country, the Medical Department has multiplied
the Maternity Clinics. More and more women like
to give birth in the clinics. The “Mother and Child
Health” Programme has also been started. These
innovations have greatly reduced the infant mor
tality rate in the country, and are of great benefit
to the people, even if they have struck a serious
blow to the folklore of kufunya ng’wana. But this
custom should at least be kept in the memory of
the nation.
1.2 The Joy of Being Blessed with Children
5. The Nyamwezi are fond of children. They see
in the children the most marvellous gift of the Cre
ator. If relatives and friends come to congratulate
a mother for her newborn baby, the mother for
certain gives God the honour. Radiant with joy, she
