Akwasi or Kwasí or Kwesi is an Ashanti masculine given name originating from the

Ashanti people The Asante, also known as Ashanti () are part of the Akan ethnic group and are native to the Ashanti Region of modern-day Ghana. Asantes are the last group to emerge out of the various Akan civilisations. Twi is spoken by over nine million Asante ...

and their Ashanti day naming system, meaning born on a Sunday. People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Akwasi has the appellation Bodua or Obueakwan meaning agility. Thus, males named Akwasi are supposed to be agile by nature.

Origin and Meaning

In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Akwasi originated from Koyasi and the Lord of Life Descent deity of the day Sunday. Males named Akwasi are known to be leaders in society and also known to be "clearer of the way" (obue-akwan). They are very inquisitive and tend to be pulled into a thing of interest.

Male Variants of Akwasi

Day names in

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

vary in spelling among the various Akan subgroups. The name is spelt Akwasi or Kwasi by the Akuapem and Ashanti subgroups while the Fante subgroup spell it as Kwesi.

Female version of Akwasi

In the Akan culture and other local cultures in

, day names come in pairs for males and females. The variant of the name used for a female child born on Sunday is Akosua.

Notable people with the name

Most Ghanaian children have their cultural day names in combination with their English or Christian names. Some notable people with such names are: *

Akwasi Addai Odike Akwasi Addai Odike is a Ghanaian businessman and politician. Early life and education Odike completed his secondary school education at Aduman Secondary school where he obtained the GCE Ordinary Level certificate. He later established as a busin ...

, Ghanaian businessman and politician *

Akwasi Afrifa Lieutenant General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa Born (24 April 1936 – 26 June 1979) was a Ghanaian soldier, farmer, traditional ruler and politician. He was the head of state of Ghana and leader of the military government in 1969 and then chairman o ...

(1936–1979), Ghanaian soldier and politician *

Akwasi Antwi Akwasi Antwi (born May 9, 1985) is a Canadian football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted 26th overall by the Calgary Stampeders. Antwi played CIS football with the Mount Allison Mounties. Professional career Calgary Stampe ...

(born 1985), Canadian football defensive lineman *

Akwasi Asante Akwasi Asante (born 6 September 1992) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for club Chesterfield. Asante began his senior career in England with Birmingham City. He made his first-team debut in the Europa League play-off round second ...

(born 1992), Dutch footballer playing in England * Akwasi Appiah (born 1960), Ghanaian football coach of the national team *

Akwasi Fobi-Edusei Akwasi Fobi-Edusei (born 12 September 1986), sometimes listed as Akwasi Fobe-Edusei or simply Akwasi Edusei, is an English former professional footballer. Playing career Born in Camberwell, London, he began his career with Gillingham, where h ...

(born 1986), English footballer *

Akwasi Frimpong Akwasi Frimpong (born 11 February 1986) is a Dutch-Ghanaian sprinter, bobsledder, and skeleton athlete. Frimpong was raised in Ghana and later moved to the Netherlands. He is a former Dutch Junior Champion in the 200 meter sprints. To qualify for ...

(born 1986), Ghanaian-Dutch runner and bobsledder * Akwasi Addo Alfred Kwarteng (born Monday 26 May 1975), UK politician * Akwasi Mensah (born 1986), Dutch former NFL Europe football player *

Akwasi Oduro Akwasi Qwakeye Oduro (born 8 February 1987 in Cologne) is a German-born Belgian defender of Ghanaian descent. Career He emigrated to Belgium when he was ten and started playing for Gierle and K.V. Turnhout. At the age of 14 he moved to Stand ...

(born 1987), Belgian footballer *

Akwasi Oppong Fosu Akwasi Oppong Fosu (born February 1, 1958) is a Ghanaian politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Amenfi East constituency since 7 January 2013. He is a member of the National Democratic Congress. He was appointed Minister fo ...

, Ghanaian Member of Parliament *

Akwasi Osei-Adjei Akwasi Osei-Adjei (born 27 December 1949) is a Ghanaian politician of the Republic of Ghana. He was the Member of Parliament representing Ejisu-Juaben constituency of the Ashanti Region of Ghana in the 4th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Gh ...

(born 1949), Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs *

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah Akwasi Owusu-Ansah ( ; born April 10, 1988) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, and Detroit Lions. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts i ...

(born 1988), American football defensive back *

Nana Akwasi Asare Nana Akwasi Asare (born 11 July 1986) is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who most recently played for Belgian club Gent as a left back. Between 2007 and 2012 he made five appearances for the Ghana national team. Club career Born in Kumasi, ...

(born 1986), Ghanaian footballer playing in Belgium

References

{{given name Given names Ashanti given names Akan given names African masculine given names Akan people

Origin and Meaning

Male Variants of Akwasi

Female version of Akwasi

Notable people with the name

See also

References