J

INTRODUCTION: The most popular “J” name is Jideofo. Many other names in this category are rooted in “ji” {yam} Yam is tropical tubers, but it means much more to the Igbo: Yam is sacred, the king of crops. In many Igbo communities, it is an abomination for a woman to plant yams. To steal yam is to desecrate the land. It is believed that Ani, the Earth Deity extracts revenge for such acts. Iri Ji, the New Yam festival is still very popular in Igbo communities and beyond, even though less people now plant yams than in pre-colonial and colonial days. Imports from other parts of Africa have flooded the market to supplement sharp decline in local production, and therefore the high demands for such yam production centers in Abakaliki and Anam River Basin.

King Jaja of Opobo’s name is rooted in yam.: Ji bu uno. It is easy to adopt that all names rooted in “ji” are male, but it is not so. Mmaji, for example is strictly female, and so are a few others listed below--although not strictly so. As I have said, only such names rooted in gender-specific termed can be categorically labeled sex-specific. 

JAACHIMMA [Jaa Chi mma = Praise God]

DWV: JAACHI, JACHI, JACHIMMA

Gender: Female

JAAIBE [Jaa ibe = Praise mates/kith and kin]

DVW: JAIBE, IBE

Gender: Male

JAAMMA [Jaa mma = Praise goodness]

JEENETE: [Jee nete… = Go and see …] 

Jee nete ugo mma (Go and behold the height of beauty)

DWV: JENETE, JENETA

JIAGBAOGU [Ji agba ogu = Yam does not extract revenge]

Interpretation: This name has very deep meaning that is rooted in the culture of yam. It is assumed that a crime against yam is a crime against a deity, Njoku, and especially against Ani, the Earth Deity. Thus, this name probably says that the fair but firm earth deity will revenge the desecration of yam, not the yam itself.

DWV: JIAGBOGU, JAGBOGU,

Gender: Male

JIBUAKU[Ji bu aku = Yam is wealth]

Interpretation: The name speaks for itself. The wealth of an Igbo man used to be measured by the size and content of hid yam barn.

DWV: JIBAKU

Gender: Female

JIBUAMARA [Ji bu amara = Yam is grace]

Interpretation: The possession of yams, a sign of wealth and power, is only possible through divine grace. This is what the name reminds us.

DWV: JIBUAMALA, AMALA, AMARA

Gender: Female

JIBUEGO [Ji bu ego = Yam is money]

Interpretation: The values of yam is further stressed here. A man with barn-full of yams has loads of money. It was true in the old days, it is still true today. The agricultural economy of Igboland has persisted even into and beyond the oil boom.

Gender: Female

JIBUEZE [Ji bu eze = Yam is king]

Interpretation: On the face of it, yam is the king of crops, but this says more: the possession of yam crowns the owner. The social status of a man who possess loads of yam is lifted to that of kings. In fact, some men are so rich in yams they are called “Eze ji.”

Gender: Male

JIBUIKE [Ji bu ulo = Yam is power]

Interpretation: Power oozes out from the possession of yams. This is true.

DWV: JIBIKE

Gender: Male

JIBUISHI [Ji bu isi = Yam is head]

Interpretation: This name further lifts the importance of yams to the top of the prime possesion, including house and other crops. There is nothing more important than the possessiion of yams, this name suggests here.

DWV: JIBISI, JIBUISI

Gender: Male

JIBUMMA [Ji bu mma = Yam is beauty]

Interpretation: The Igbo are so in love with yam they will spare nothing in its praise. The beauty of yam does not only lies in its value but also in it dietary functions.

Gender: Female

JIBUNKA [Ji bu ulo = Yam is skill/art]

Interpretation: This name states the obvious: the acquisition of yams takes years of learning the ropes. The combination of skills and divine grace eventually leads to good harvests. Hence, young men are taught early in life to observe and learn how to tend to the stem and ridges and seedlings. Interesting, a badly preserved yam is as good as not having any: they go terribly bad if the elements are not properly controlled.

Gender: Male

JIBUUBA [Ji bu uba = Yam is wealth]

Interpretation: As in Jibuaku, the possession of yam is still an indicator of the affluence of a man in rustic Igbo communities. 

DWV: JIBUBA

Gender: Both

JIBUUGWU[Ji bu ugwu = Yam is respect]

Interpretation: The prestige that comes with the possession of yams brings a lot of respect to the skills of the owner. Yes, the possesssion of yams is a source of respect. [See also Dibuugwu, Nwabuugwu]

DWV: JIBUGWU

Gender: Male

JIBUNDU [Ji bu ndu = Yam is life]

Interpretation: The family of a man who owns a barnfull of yams is not likely to starve. On the contrary, the man can go ahead and increase the family. Everyone is happy and life goes on.

Gender: Male

JIBUNNA [Ji bu nna (akuku) = Yam is father (of plants)]

Interpretation: In Igboland, as I have pointed out, yam is king. It is the father of all other agricultural endeavors. Iri Ji festival is still popular today, even in farway Americas and Europe.

Gender: Male

JIBUULO [Ji bu ulo = Yam is house]

Interpretation: This name connotes that yam is a measure of how grounded a man is. The possession of yam is like building a palace, a very prime possession indeed, albeit a crop.

DWV: JIBUUNO, JIBUNO, JIBUNOH

Gender: Male

JIDEOFO [Jide ofo = Hold on to righteousness]

Interpretation: The concept of "ofo" is deep, but this name is quite innocent for a male child. But the name-giver must know why s/he is preaching the virtue of righteousness.

DWV: JIDE, JIDEOFOR, JIDEOFFOR

Gender: Male

JAACHIMMA [Jaa Chi mma = Praise God]

DWV: JAACHI, JACHI, JACHIMMA

Gender: Female

JAAIBE [Jaa ibe = Praise mates/kins]

DVW: JAIBE, IBE

Gender: Male

JAAMMA 

JEENETE: [Jee nete… = Go and see …] 

DWV: JENETE, JENETA

JIAGBAOGU [Ji agba ogu = Yam does not extract revenge]

Interpretation: This name has very deep meaning that is rooted in the culture of yam. It is assumed tha a crime against yam is a crime against a deity and especially against earth deity. Thus, this ename probably says that the fair but firm earth deity will revenge the desecration of yam.

DWV: JIAGBOGU

Gender: Male

JIBUAKU[Ji bu aku = Yam is wealth]

Interpretation: The name speaks for itself. The wealth of an Igbo man used to be measured by the sixze and conmtent of hid yam barn.

DWV: JIBAKU

Gender: Female

JIBUAMARA [Ji bu amara = Yam is grace]

Interpretation: The possession of yams, a sign of wealth and power, is only possible through divine grace. This is what the name reminds us.

DWV: JIBUAMALA, AMALA, AMARA

Gender: Female

JIBUEGO [Ji bu ego = Yam is money]

Interpretation: The values of yam is further stressed here. A man with barn-full of yams has loads of money. It was true in the old days, it is still true today. The agricultural economy of Igboland has persisted even into and beyond the oil boom.

Gender: Female

JIBUEZE [Ji bu eze = Yam is king]

Interpretation: On the face of it, yam is the king of crops, but this says more: the possession of yam crowns the owner. The social status of a man who possess loads of yam is lifted to that of kings. In fact, some men are so rich in yams they are called “Eze ji.”

Gender: Male

JIBUIKE [Ji bu ulo = Yam is power]

Interpretation: Power oozes out from the possession of yams. This is true.

DWV: JIBIKE

Gender: Male

JIBUISHI [Ji bu isi = Yam is head]

Interpretation: This name further lifts the importance of yams to the top of the prime possession, including house and other crops. There is nothing more important than the possession of yams, this name suggests here.

DWV: JIBISI, JIBUISI

Gender: Male

JIBUMMA [Ji bu mma = Yam is beauty]

Interpretation: The Igbo are so in love with yam they will spare nothing in its praise. The beauty of yam does not only lies in its value but also in it dietary functions.

Gender: Female

JIBUNKA [Ji bu ulo = Yam is skill/art]

Interpretation: This name states the obvious: the acquisition of yams takes years of learning the ropes. The combination of skills and divine grace eventually leads to good harvests. Hence, young men are taught early in life to observe and learn how to tend to the stem and ridges and seedlings. Interesting, a badly preserved yam is as good as not having any: they go terribly bad if the elements are not properly controlled. 

Gender: Male

JIBUUBA [Ji bu uba = Yam is wealth]  As in JIBUAKU, the possession of yam is still an indicator of the affluence of a man in rustic Igbo communities. 

DWV: Jibuba

Gender: Male

JIBUUGWU[Ji bu ugwu = Yam is respect] The prestige that comes with the possession of yams brings a lot of respect to the skills of the owner. Yes, the possession of yams is a source of respect. [See also DIBUUGWU, NWBUUGWU]

DWV: Jibugwu

Gender: Male

JIBUNDU [Ji bu ndu = Yam is life] The family of a man who owns a barn-full of yams is not likely to starve. On the contrary, the man can go ahead and increase the family. Everyone is happy and life goes on.

Gender: Male

JIBUNNA [Ji bu nna (akuku) = Yam is father (of plants)] In Igboland, as has been pointed in the introduction, yam is king. It is the father of all other agricultural endeavors. Iri Ji or New Yam festival is still popular today, even in faraway Americas and Europe.

Gender: Male

JIBUULO [Ji bu ulo = Yam is house]

Interpretation: This name connotes that yam is a measure of how grounded a man is. The possession of yam is like building a palace, a very prime possession indeed, albeit a crop.

DWV: Jibulo, Jibuno,

Gender: Male

JIDEOFO [Jide ofo = Hold on to righteousness]

Interpretation: The concept of “ofo” is deep, but this name is quite innocent for a male child. However, the name-giver must know why s/he is preaching the virtue of righteousness.

DWV: Jide, Jideofor, Jideoffor

Gender: Male

JUOCHI [Juo Chi = Ask God]

See also AJULUCHULUCHUKW