₦airaland Forum

If there’s any tribe in Nigeria that takes the crown for having the most unusual, funny, and downright strange names, it has to be the Ijaw people — whether from Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Ondo, Edo, or Akwa Ibom. Especially those from the first three!

I’m from Bayelsa, and honestly, the kind of names you hear among our people will leave you laughing or wondering how they came about. You’ll meet people bearing names like Lifeboat, Emergency, Air, Zinc, and even Table. Believe it or not, I even know someone whose real name is Kitchen!

Now, if you move over to the Rivers Ijaw, especially the Bonny people, their style is purely English — names like Green, Brown, Jumbo, Hart and Fyneface. Then you have the famous surnames from Kalabari like West, Briggs, and Bob-Manuel.

Even among Ijaw politicians, the trend continues — check out names like Heneiken Lokpobiri, James Manager, and Government Ekpemupolo. Tell me which other tribe can compete with that!

But honestly, I’ve told my people before — one day, if you don’t have at least one name that shows the Ijaw in you, people might start questioning if you’re truly Ijaw.

As for me, I’m keeping the culture alive. My two children have proper Ijaw names before their “organized” English names.

My daughter: Olaere Sonia

My son: Ayakpo Richard


@Ditari of Ijaw

Richtaiwo:
The whole of plateau state. Very funny names. The most common name is Pam.

I can't argue with you and the op...

The two are doing competition.

Op what does olaere mean? It doesn't sound like an Ijaw name. It even sounds Yoruba. Also ayakpo!

brain54:
I can't argue with you and the op...

The two are doing competition.

Op what does olaere mean? It doesn't sound like an Ijaw name. It even sounds Yoruba. Also ayakpo!

Olaere in my dialect mean woman of honour.


Ayakpo mean new world.

Toruibestate:
Olaere in my dialect mean woman of honour.


Ayakpo mean new world.

Nice...

What dialect is that pls?

brain54:
Nice...

What dialect is that pls?

Same dialect with the Governor of Bayelsa.

Toruibestate:
Same dialect with the Governor of Bayelsa.

Kolokuma...?

brain54:
Kolokuma...?

Yes Kolokuma.
I'm from the ancestral home of Kolokuma Kingdom that doubles as the ancestral home of all Ijaws.



Agadagba Igbedi.

My father that died last month September 5 was buried on the same land the first Ijaw man lived over 10,000 years ago because our family lands are part of the island .

Toruibestate:
Yes Kolokuma.
I'm from the ancestral home of Kolokuma Kingdom that doubles as the ancestral home of all Ijaws.



Agadagba Igbedi.

My father that died last month September 5 was buried on the same land the first Ijaw man lived over 10,000 years ago because our family lands are part of the island .

So it's like the ife of Yorubas...


Nice. No wonder Ijaw ginger full your blood!

brain54:
So it's like the ife of Yorubas...


Nice. No wonder Ijaw ginger full your blood!

Not it's like but it is.

brain54:
So it's like the ife of Yorubas...


Nice. No wonder Ijaw ginger full your blood!

Haha.

brain54:
So it's like the ife of Yorubas...


Nice. No wonder Ijaw ginger full your blood!

This our discussion made me create another thread concerning the ancestral home of the Ijaws.

Toruibestate:
This our discussion made me create another thread concerning the ancestral home of the Ijaws.

Okay, I will check it out...

Poor set of imagination only Nigerians think like this. God created the language we speak, terrorist are taking over your land you are talking about funny names try to buy sense if you are not gifted with one pls.

Toruibestate:
Yes Kolokuma.
I'm from the ancestral home of Kolokuma Kingdom that doubles as the ancestral home of all Ijaws.



Agadagba Igbedi.

My father that died last month September 5 was buried on the same land the first Ijaw man lived over 10,000 years ago because our family lands are part of the island .

Is Ijaw an Ethnic group or just a tribe?

slimfit1:
Poor set of imagination only Nigerians think like this. God created the language we speak, terrorist are taking over your land you are talking about funny names try to buy sense if you are not gifted with one pls.

What do you want OP and others to do about bolded aside petition leaders who command our security parastatals?

Can't you just waka pass and let people discuss what they want in peace as long as such is not offensive ?

@OP.
Interesting thread. Nigerians do have fascinating names. With Ijaw names, I think you'll find it's the retention of names in literal English form that is fascinating. Others have similar names but in their native tongue

For example Goodluck would roughly translate to something like orire in Yoruba language prompting Yorubas who wish to associate good luck with their children to name them Bibire or Rire.

A name of GodsPromise would be IleriOluwa in Yoruba

Have you tried Benue names? Your tongue and pen go first twist. Then your brain go just say, move on... Lol

My daughter: Olaere Sonia

Sorry what does the bold mean in ijaw?

GodPunishOsu:
Sorry what does the bold mean in ijaw?

Olaere mean woman of honour.

Procashtips:
Is Ijaw an Ethnic group or just a tribe?

Ijaw is same thing Yoruba and Igbo is.
Each one having different clans and kingdoms in them.

slimfit1:
Poor set of imagination only Nigerians think like this. God created the language we speak, terrorist are taking over your land you are talking about funny names try to buy sense if you are not gifted with one pls.

Speak for your land and not my place.
My place is save from terrorists.
Nevertheless thats the work of the ones we elected.

WHILE THE FULANI ARE ATTACKING, OCCUPYING AND INVADING NIGERIA FROM THE NORTH, THE IJAWS ARE OCCUPYING NIGERIA FROM THE SOUTH.
THE TWO GROUPS ARE SERIOUS AND DESPERATE. THIS IS THE REASON WHY TINUBU, AKPABIO AND KEKERE EKUN SHOULD PUT HEADS TOGETHER TO RETURN FAPRES FOTCS AND CTC TRFG SINE DIE.

IAMWAI.

People like you are one of the reasons Nairaland is no longer an interesting place for people to congregate anymore...

Gone are those days when people will discuss, learn and be educated about different topics and issues but what do we have today.. People like you who are moving about with toxicity and pains of different magnitude.

Let me ask, what have you personally done to the issues you raised? Abi terrorists are not disturbing you where you are?

slimfit1:
Poor set of imagination only Nigerians think like this. God created the language we speak, terrorist are taking over your land you are talking about funny names try to buy sense if you are not gifted with one pls.

PlayerMeji:
People like you are one of the reasons Nairaland is no longer an interesting place for people to congregate anymore...

Gone are those days when people will discuss, learn and be educated about different topics and issues but what do we have today.. People like you who are moving about with toxicity and pains of different magnitude.

Let me ask, what have you personally done to the issues you raised? Abi terrorists are not disturbing you where you are?

Precisely. You see a non-offensive topic that does not interest you, then why not stay away instead of entering thread to lecture others over what they should/should not discuss?

So we should discuss nothing else other than security because Nigeria is grappling with insecurity?

The sad thing is that many come online to make others as miserable as they are.

Ijaw wey dey bear Aeroplane, Police.. Very funny tribe.

Ijaw people water people

My friend from jos, Nanzig Nanfel

You haven’t heard of government, testament, statement, Saturday before?

I give it to Jos people, very strong names, I miss Jos

Richtaiwo:
The whole of plateau state. Very funny names. The most common name is Pam.

add Adamawa to the list. My roommate's name was Humpty

Lol every tribe answer such funny names ONLY that they are not translated to English

for example Air ---- IKUKU
LIFEBOAT -----UGBONDU
EMERGENCY ----- MBEREDE




BONUs


NWIGBAKPO------- son Of PEPPER (PEPPER PIKIN)

IGODOMBEKEE ---------- OYIBO KEY

EKPiri -------------- Bedbug