I have always been fascinated by names- humans’, animals’, events’, festivals’ and places’- all names generally.
In Africa , a premium is placed on names and because most believe that there is a strong link between a person’s name and their destiny, we tend to take our time and give serious thought to name-giving.
But we also give names based on what’s happening to us or around us at a particular moment in time. We do this to remind ourselves of that time or to serve as a reminder to coming generations of what happened in that period of our history.
Whilst I will forever be fascinated by people’s names and their meanings [when they have meanings], finding out the meanings and stories behind the names given to places had always been my desire.
I grew up in Makoko, the only surviving slum in the heart of Yaba, in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area. Makoko or Maktown, as some of us used to call it in our university days [in an attempt to disguise where we lived because we were ashamed of its slum and ‘ghetto’ status], got its name from two words- Omi [water], and Akoko (newboldia laevis) trees. We were told that when the first settlers got to Makoko, it was just a large expanse of swamp overgrown with Akoko trees. Omi & Akoko later morphed into Makoko and not even the inventiveness of some arrogant college kids could change its history.
But I feel history beckons in almost every place. I feel there is a story to be told about the name of every community.
I would like to know the stories behind places such as Obalende [The king banished me to this place] in Lagos & Inalende [Fire consigned me to this place] in Ibadan
Who knows the meaning of the names and the stories behind places like Oyingbo, Ebute Metta, Ikorodu, Mushin
What about places like Ibadan Abeokuta Onitsha Enugu
Where did you grow up?
Where are you from?
Do you know the meaning of the name of the place?
Is there a story behind the name?
Teach me… talk to me…
Please tell me a story.
