In Nigeria, there is an existence of a heterogeneous society comprising of three major tribes to include: the Igbo, Yoruba, and the Hausa/Fulani. Names of God in Igbo language and their meanings in English, the tribes speak different languages all together with English as the official language.

Although Igbo is tough at all levels in eastern Nigeria schools, English remains the principal literary language.  Reading and writing in Igbo is not widespread as many urban areas replace pidgin English with the Igbo language. However, the Igbo people have approximately 30 Igbo dialects some of which are not mutually intelligible and to an extent.

The Owerri and Umuahia dialect which has been in use since 1962 is not universally accepted by speakers of other dialects. A standard Igbo is aimed at including wards from other Igbo dialects as well as loan words from other languages within the Northern delta areas of the country.

However, this work is aimed at knowing the different Igbo names for God and their English meanings. Over time, the Igbo people use their languages in praising and worship God. This, there do in conjunction with calling God names which have powerful meaning within the context of the language.

NAMES OF GOD IN IGBO LANGUAGE AND THEIR ENGLISH MEANINGS:

The Igbo names of God and their English meanings are listed below:

  • Chukwu (the first force and being that proceeds every other existing force)
  • Odogwu Akataka(fearless warrior)
  • Eze Ndi Eze(King of kings)
  • Echeta Scherzo (He that takes away every pain and worry)
  • Ejide Obi Esike(My confidence)
  • Obata Obie (He that ends every trouble)
  • Di Nwanyi Isi Mpe (Husband of the widow)
  • Ikuku Amanoyo (unquenchable fire)
  • Dike Na’gha (mighty warrior)
  • Chi ne cherem (the God that thinks for me)
  • Oke Mmiri N’ebu Ogwe (Great water that carries fearful storm)
  • Oku N’ere Ere (consuming fire)
  • Ike Nkwu abandon Mba (the authority upon which I make my declaration)
  • Oje name Mmuo (he that works in the spirit)
  • Ebube Mbekumbe(Glorious forever)
  • Oloru Ihe Loro one Loro Lori Enyi (bigger than the biggest)
  • Nkume Mgbe Ebighi(film foundation)
  • Igweeee(king)
  • Ekwueme (He does what he says)
  • Okechi (Great God)
  • Ogaranya Nga Danya(the wealthiest)
  • Obata Ulo Adi ima (the peacemaker)
  • Agubata Ohia Mgbada aware Oso(the most feared God)
  • Chi no matter Eluigwe Oga do ya anu akpu n’ala(God that sits in heaven and uses the earth as his footstool)
  • Ebighiebi Eluigwe (Everlasting in heaven)
  • One ukwu n’ogba agha (the great worrior )
  • Ogbajiri igwe kpo ya nku(He that breaks iron with his hands like ordinary firewood )
  • Oloro one photo Ihe (very very big God that is bigger than all things)
  • Otigburu agbara n’ihu mmuo ya(He that kills a native doctor on his shrine)
  • Oke mmuo(Great spirit)
  • Ome Okachie(he says and does the final)
  • Gi Obara akpu nwa n’afo(he that forms a child with blood)
  • Agiga na ato akpu(the needle that loosens the tightest something)
  • O’gbara nkiti Okwu biri n’onu ya(he that has the final says in his silence)
  • Oke mmiri n’ebu ogwe(great water that carries the bridge)
  • One mmanwu n’eti one ya (masquerade that flaunt itself)
  • Gaga n’ogwu(God that walks on thorns)
  • Ojena mmuo(God that walk in the spirit realm)
  • Amama Amasi amasi (God that knows all)
  • Ikuku ima na onya(air that can never be caught via trap)
  • Nkume mgbe ebighi ebi(firm foundation)
  • Chukwuemeka (All sufficient God)
  • Eze ebere(king of mercy)
  • Chioma(Good God)
  • Uzo chukwu(the way of God)
  • Odinakachi (in the hand of God)
  • Chukwu MA mee(God that knows me)
  • Ifunanyachukwu(God’s love)
  • Okwu chi(God’s love)
  • Akachi Chineke di bia(God’s hand has come)
  • Chinaza ekpere (God that answers prayers)
  • Oke Chineke(big God)
  • Olu ebube(glorious God)
  • Chima obim(God that knows my heart)
  • Chineke ile onye mi ihe n’ile(God that knows everything)
  • Chinekelle ne ihe ndu(God that gives life)
  • Chinekelle ne ihe mee ndu nbetubaha(God that does everything)
  • Ifunanya chukwu (the love of God)
  • Eze ifeoma (King of Fortune)
  • Chukwu ma n’pan(God who knows all my problems)

Still On Igbo Names For God And Their Meanings

According to the American English dictionary, language can be defined as a form of communication using words either spoken or gestured with the hands and structured with grammar often with a writing system.  Language is a vocal symbol through which human beings communicate. That means the language is primarily designed to be spoken by people in sharing information.

Language can either be spoken or written; it is spoken when the use of sounds(colloquial), tongue and speech is applied whereas language is said to be written when alphabet or letters are composed together to express an idea or thought in a meaningful manner

However, the Yoruba language is primarily communicated in the western part of the country with the following state, Lagos, Ibadan, Oshun, Ekiti, Kwara, Ogun, Kogi, Ondo state respectively.  The Hausa/Fulani speaking region is majorly based in the Northern part of the country and the states that speak more of the language include: Borno state, Katsina state, Gombe state, Jigawa state, Kaduna state, Kano state, Niger state, Plateau state, Nasarawa state, Tatiana, Sokoto state, Zamfara state, Abuja, and some part of the Benue state speak the Hausa language as well even though it is one of the states located in the central geopolitical zone of the country. Whereas the Igbo-speaking people are residents in the Eastern part of the country and some at the Niger Delta area politically known as the South-South.  

The Igbo-speaking states In Nigeria include; Abia state, Anambra state, IMO state, Enugu state, and Ebonyi state.  Others include part of the Delta state and River State respectively.

The states of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Igbo serve as their major language of trade and commerce.  It is used in mass media communication such as radio and television in the eastern and southern delta region.

Aside from calling God names in the Igbo language, a typical Igbo man is known for praising either himself, his friend, the rich among them with assorted names with good meaning for different purposes. Sometimes for favour which could either be financial, material, political and other business assistance but that does not an Igbo man only has this motives for making praise to whomsoever he chooses, he does that too for the purpose of pleasure and ensuring that happi6is derived at the long run for peaceful CO-existence and also a means of showing love. This is equally done for either collective or personal exultation of individual or group of individuals within an Igbo speaking environment and beyond.

An Igbo man is known for identifying his brother or sister with this language and thereafter embracing each other as one big family where ever they find themselves either within the country or out of the country. In other words, the language symbolizes love.

The Igbo people have a lot of names that are used to address God and through it, they attract his presence and bring down his splendor. They do this in other to reverence who God is and how he has been dealing with them individually and as a church. In recent times the Igbo people use God relating names for naming their children for purposes like attracting God’s favor to the families and to see that their children grow up and becoming what time the name means actually. From an Igbo man’s perspective, and even from the biblical view and the general view, God is the beginning and the end, he knows everything and nothing takes him unaware. He understands every language because he is the foundation of every existing language and as such as human beings we ought to see and reference him with all languages by calling him exalting names in our languages.

Related: 

CONCLUSION ON THE NAMES OF GOD IN IGBO LANGUAGE AND THEIR MEANINGS

In the core setting of the Igbo people, a farmer, driver, Fisherman, civil servant, lawyer, doctor, businessmen and women, pastors, bishops, worshipers and singers, even traditionalists popularly known as native doctors or Babalawo and different classes of people have their personal way of referencing God excluding the general name they go with as a people.

Individuals reverence God with names based on their personal encounter and the level of relationship they have with God. This can equally be exemplified even in the English language where people call God a different kind of name based on the encounter with God and what he has done for them individually. 

Tags: Meanings Of Names Of God In Igbo Language