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PACiK C 1
African Spotlight
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African Names -L
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The scoop of African name is often prescribed by the circumstances
that led to the name. What does this sentence mean? It means that in
Africa, and that means in all Darts of Africa nconlc arc namoH
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because of some hopes fulfilled, wishes granted, expectations
realized, or some longings for inner fulfillment.
' ? ' ' ' The
idea of one Supreme God is as natural to Africa as the fact that
black people inhabif the most parts of Africa. But this Supreme God
Hias- w^tng for-htmv it4s behevedr su-mafty-other gods wha are in
daily contact with men and report back to the Supreme God what goes j
on in the world at the end of each day.
This is not nnli1 e 'he belief in many Christian religions where angels ~
ind saints are said to be nearer to God than men are and where the
.luetic oi God is often imagined in paintings and drawings. Prayer
through these angels and Saints, it is said, gets immediate answer
since these intermediaries have direct line of communication with
God an men probably do not.
T' - J - t. - An
understanding of this kind of thinking will help in
understanding how many African names are arrived at. Anv errnnn nf
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people-have a way of expressing their hopes and fears in words and
many Africans name their children to express just that.
There are limitations to that.
\.
There are certaia things that seem to be excluded in arriving at an
African name.. Names that give direct or indirect implication of
pomposity, doing better than others, being the luckiest individual
<> round and being a superman, are not common in Africa since it is
believed by many in Africa that man's achievements are to be seen
and not to be told. That is, although wealth is important in many parts
of Africa, nobody names his child 4'wealth" because that will give the
ideli to others that that person is bragging about his wealth to his less
fortunate neighbors.
Since happiness is not restricted either to the rich or the poor, many
people -pi Africa name their children happiness, meaning that the
arrival of the baby brings happiness to the household.
Parents often name their children after somebody in the family that
the child looks like or takes after.
0s'; 1 * It
is believed 1$" many in Africa that relatives are reincarnated in
children of the family. It is a belief strong among all segments of
African people and many African names reflect this believe. Hence it
is common to see children who are named after the grandmother or
the grandfather, uncle, aunt, nephews and other distant relatives.
African names are history in a nutshell.
With the advent of Christianity in many parts of Africa, hospitals
and health clinic were introduced. This meant that there began to be
fewer deaths as a result of childbirth. In gratitude of this phenomenon,
many parents named the children who were born alive in these
hospitals and clinics to reflect the fact that they owed their lives to the
good work of the hospitals and clinics.
PTrvr ovomnla ???' ? -? * '?:? ?1
* vr? vAotupic, uicic aic iiidpeupie in /urica wnose names mean
'Europeans help God to bring people alive to this world." The
underlining meaning of this name is that having lost about five or six
children before the coming of a hospital or a clinic, that the parents
, are grateful to God and the founders of the hospital.
Another change of this century in African names is the many people
who are named after some political leaders.
P'or example, in many African nations, the leaders of the day have
many children named after him. The implication of this way of
naming is a wish that the child will grow up to be as important or
famous as the leader he is named after.
How can a black American who wishes to take an African name go
about it?
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mere -are many steps he can take.
inFirSt ?f aU'hC mUSt decide in what lan?ua?e he wants his name to be
Africa has over 500 different languages.
Then he will decide what he wants his name to mean and then find a
speaker of that language and ask that speaker to translate the English
wording he has chosen to the language of his choice. ?
English names do not have African names equivalent.
For example, there is no African name that I know of that is
equivalent to Smith or John. Hence to walk to somebody and ask what
does my name mean in Africa is at best to aSk the impossible.:
You do not always have to go through the above ways to pick an
African name.
You can simply choose a name that you have heard before and likec
it and use the name for yourself.
However, it is advisable to know the meaning of the name so that at
least you will know what you are called, , , , , N.K.
% * 9 ' <0+
VINSTON-SALEM CHRONICLE
Children
With Hidden
r
Handicaps
/
Children with Learnin
I hsabilities are often referred -bias
the child with the ''hidden
handicaps"... The symptoms
-may be so slight they are simply
regarded as "lazy" or "spoiled."
These children are usually failing
in reading, spelling, writing or
arithmetic, but the teacher
insists he could do the u/nrW 4'if
^^T^j^ratfiive'or
ctaiargic; aggressive or
withdrawn, a superb athlete or
completely uncoordinated.
However, each teacher will agree.
that the child is_^different." The
attention space may be short,
certain memory disorders may
be present and frequently they
will have difficulty in
understanding abstract concepts.
Seemingly they often lack a basic
understanding of their world ~
such as body image, form and
spatial relationships. Experts
agree that despite the symptoms,
the intelligence is there.
- Only in recent years has this
problem come to light and these
^children identified under a
myriad" of terms, names ami
i liie/ii'irvi w.nL1 L?..4 >><> . . .U ..i
ipnuiw. I>Ul nu IIIUllCl VVIiai
the\ are called, many will
inevitably tail in school and
become "dropouts/* The most
onservattve vstimatcS- Tinmber
such young people as 2 or 2
percent of the school population;
others run as higfTas 15 to 2h
percent.
WHAT IT IS
WHAT CAN HK DONK
CHI 1, I) K K N WITH
I.KAItNINC; DISABILITIKS
CAN BK HKLPKD THKOUCIH -early
and accurate-diagnosis;
-^recognition of their abilities.,
of the ways in which they can
learn- as well as their
disabilities;
-establishment of srhnni
- ' X. V/ V/ I ^
wealth, recreation and other
rograms to meet the special
Heeds of these children
The North Carolina Association
tor children with Learning
- Disabilities is an organization of
interested North Carolina
parents, teachers and persons in
allied professions who want to see
WHAT YOl ( ANDO that
all children have the
opportunity to reach their
potential, and most especially
those children, with a learning
Disability.
Associated with the National
Association for Children with
Learning Disabilities, the North
Carolina ACLI) is a non-profit
organization to aid North
Carolina children with learning
disabilities of a perceptual,
conceptual or co-ordinative
nature and-or related problems.
I Hunter's Special I
I fl
. A GOOD SELECTION OF I
SUBURBANS I
I 4-WHEEL DRIVE* "* I
I '74 GMC Suburbans I
H i
4 whf?l drtve. powtf uteanng I
M itab-bw 350 V 8 178 15 tirat.
H O shocks. 4 spd trans. powsr
brakts. gaugas fokfcng saat
I *4779 m I
Sales Dapt Open Mon thru Fn
8am to 5 30 p m.
I GMC TRUCK CENTER I
3613 Ptttnaa Art Wmtton Salaai N C.
| Phoo# 724-0528 M
*
?>j3^1BSESBH^^HB|H|^^WHB}WHfMpBpHBBpBHMpM}^
' REV. W.E.SAMU
1331 East Fourth Street
| Church 1
| ST. JOHN CME CHURCH
1628 Clark Ave.
Rev. Joseph H. Lightsey, Pastor
I Telephone 725-3968
| Ik+rk . 7
ST. PAUL UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
2400 Dellabrook Rd. NE
I . Rev; J.W. Gwyn, Pastor
Telephone 723-4531
?-???? ??
|
ST. HOME UNITED
| METHODIST CHURCH
m 1390 Thurmond St.
Rev. William R. Crawford,
Pastor
Telephone 724-2514
I ***
ST. JAMES AME CHURCH
1501 Patterson Ave NE
| Rev. J.T. McMillan, Pastor
j
GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH
| 575 Claremont Ave.
I Rev. Warnie C. Hay, Pastor
Telephone 724-3857
I "THE
? Ik iL *1
w 010 norm i
H * Jewelery I net
1 Candles Po
| Rear Enders *
1 Hats Gifts 1
m Fish Nets Pipe
l| Imports CI
A For What's H
ft Come On Down To
I ? 613 North
*
OCTOBER 10, 1974
directory \ .
*
NEW ZION BAPTIST CHURCH I
158 Highland Ave.
Rev. issac Carter, Pastor
Telephone 725-9644
Revival held the week of Sep- |
tember 9, 1974. Each evening at
7^30 PM
Rev. M.L. Dillingham, Shiloh I
Baptist Church
Mocksville, NC - Speaker
I
+ir* , . . |
MX. PLEASANT BAPTIST
CHURCH |
1731 Kimberly Rd. NW
Rev. H,$. Lewis, Jr. Pastor
Telephone 725-9623
UNITED METROPOLITAN
BAPTIST CHURCH I
450 Metropolitan Dr. Rev.
J. Donald Ballard, Pastor Z
Telephone 723-0519
I
iHHt .
ST. PAUL CHURCH OF |
CHRIST OF THE APOSTOLIC
FAITH
1401 E. 25th St. I
Elder S.R. Mahan
Telephone 723-1478
5?
Vest
> DOOR" I
Liberty Street 1
mse Body Olis |
sters e Patches e m
Greeting Cards e |
Wall Decorations H
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ips Papers v 1
lap'ning Best? 8
The CUCKOO'S NEST j
Liberty Street M