Clans

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I have been named Nabukenya and am now part of the antelope clan. Out here in Uganda everyone belongs to a clan which is in addition to their family surname but unofficial. There are about 60 clans, each a different animal or insect or bird and then within each clan there are many unisex names that you could be called, the female version of the names starting with an extra N at the beginning eg Nabukenya (female) and Bukenya (male). You are named at birth and automatically take your father’s clan and it is your paternal grandfather who chooses your name. All children of the same family have the same clan (that of their father and hence paternal grandfather) but different names. You can not marry another member of your clan, nor can you marry another member of your paternal grandmother’s clan - narrowing down your choices! You can’t eat the food of your clan either - shame I’m not a grasshopper I could have got out of eating them!

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Comments

[Katy]

So did you have a whole naming ceremony? Who chose your name? Shame you won't be able to eat any antelope...hope you got your fill before receiving your name! : )