Akua is an Akan female given name among the

Akan people The Akan () people live primarily in present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. The Akan language (also known as ''Twi/Fante'') are a group of dialects within the Central Tano branch of the Potou–Tano subfamily of the Niger–Congo ...

(i.e. Ashanti, Akuapem, Akyem, Fante) in Ghana that means "born on a Wednesday" in

Akan language Akan () is a Central Tano language and the principal native language of the Akan people of Ghana, spoken over much of the southern half of Ghana. About 80% of Ghana's population can speak Akan, and about 44% of Ghanaians are native speakers. I ...

, following their day naming system. People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Akua has the appellation ''Obirisuo'', ''Obisi'' or ''Odaakuo'' meaning evil.

Origin and meaning

In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Akua originated from Wukuada and from the Lord of Life’s Sky (heavenly) Host Day deity for Wednesday. Females born on Wednesday are champions of the cause of others but can be mean-spirited and tenacious (obrisii, "dark hearted"). The name is also associated with a spider (Ananse).

Female variant

Day names in Ghana have varying spellings. This is so because of the various Akan subgroups. Each Akan subgroup has a similar or different spelling for the day name to other Akan subgroups. Akua is spelt Akua by the Akuapem and Ashanti subgroups while the Fante subgroup spell it as Ekua or Kuukua.

Male version

In the Akan culture and other local cultures in Ghana, day names come in pairs for males and females. The variant of the name used for a male child born on Wednesday is Kwaku.

Notable people named Akua

Akua Sakyiwaa Ahenkorah Akua Sakyiwaa Ahenkorah is a Ghanaian diplomat who has worked for the Foreign relations of Ghana in various capacities and presently serves as Ghana's Ambassador to Malaysia. She is the first female Ghanaian envoy to Malaysia. Career Ahenkorah ...

, Ghanaian diplomat *

Akua Anokyewaa Akua Anokyewaa (born 15 October 1984) is a Ghanaian women's international footballer who plays as a forward. She is a member of the Ghana women's national football team. She was part of the team at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup The 2003 FI ...

(born 1984), Ghanaian footballer *

Akua Asabea Ayisi Akua Asabea Ayisi (3 April 1927 – 21 April 2010) was a feminist, former High Court Judge and the first female Ghanaian journalist. During the rise of the Ghanaian independence movement, Akua Asabea Ayisi trained as a journalist with Mabel Dov ...

(1927–2010), Ghanaian High Court Judge, journalist and feminist * Akua Sena Dansua (born 1958), Ghanaian media and communications consultant, politician and governance and leadership practitioner * Akua Donkor (born 1952), Ghanaian politician and the founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party *

Akua Lezli Hope Akua Lezli Hope is an African-American woman artist, poet and writer. Early life and education Hope was raised in New York City by a "brilliant seamstress and tailor" mother who taught her to crochet at a young age and a father who enthusiastic ...

, African-American artist, poet and writer *

Akua Kuenyehia Akua Kuenyehia (born 1947) is a Ghanaian academic and lawyer who served as judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) from 2003 to 2015. She also served as First Vice-president of the Court. She was one of the three female African judges at ...

(born 1947), Ghanaian lawyer *

Akua Naru Akua Naru (also known as Akua Olatunji), is a rapper from Connecticut, United States. Naru has been particularly successful in Europe, where she has lived since 2008. Her hip-hop music incorporates styles including soul and jazz. In 2018 she beg ...

, hip hop MC/rapper *

Akua Njeri Akua Njeri (formerly known as Deborah Johnson; born 1949/50) is an American writer, activist and former member of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. Njeri was present at the December 4, 1969, police raid in which her fiancé, Fred Ha ...

, American writer and activist *

Akua Obeng-Akrofi Akua Obeng-Akrofi (born 10 July 1996) is a Ghanaian sprinter. She competed in the women's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics. She graduated from Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Colu ...

(born 1996), Ghanaian sprinter *

Akua Shōma is a Japanese professional sumo wrestler from Ibaraki Prefecture. He made his debut in November 2010 and reached the top ''makuuchi'' division in November 2020, just after turning 30 years of age. He wrestles for Tatsunami stable. His highest ra ...

(born 1990), Japanese professional sumo wrestler *

Hilda Akua Hilda Akua Frimpong (born 1991) is a Ghanaian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Ghana in 2015 and represented Ghana at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant. After being diagnosed with scoliosis in 2012, Frimpong became ...

(born 1991), Ghanaian model and beauty pageant titleholder *

Ranin Akua Ranin Akua (born 1961/62) is a former Member of Parliament of Nauru, from the constituency of Ubenide. Having been unseated in the 2019 Parliamentary election, Akua stood unsuccessfully to regain his Ubenide seat in 2022 File:2022 collage V1. ...

, member of the Parliament of Nauru * Riddell Akua (born 1963), politician from the Pacific nation of the Republic of Nauru *

Thrixeena Akua Thrixeena Akua (born March 4, 1994) is a Nauruan sprinter. During the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, she landed in seventh place in the 100m women event. She also competed in the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Olympic games In 2010, s ...

(born 1994), Nauruan sprinter

References

Akan given names African feminine given names {{Given name