THE AKAN NAMING STRUCTURE | AKAN SOUL NAMES (Kra din) AND REAL NAMES (Din Pa)

THE AKAN NAMING STRUCTURE | AKAN SOUL NAMES (Kra din) AND REAL NAMES (Din Pa)
The Akan people are handful of ethnic subgroups who live in regions of Ghana, Togo and Ivory Coast. In those countries, it is common for folks to have both an English/French name, which is often used in professional circles, and a traditional Akan name used with family.
The naming structure of an Akan child is typically made up of the soul name and the real name which in most cases is based on circumstances and events preceding it's birth. The custom is most famous for its "day of the week" names. It is also believed that the day of the week the child is born on influences their personality. In fact, these names are known in Akan Twi as kradin, which translates to "soul name".