Mama JunkYard's

Not Just Junk...

Hunt for Kenyan Surname. Any Ideas?

It has come to my attention that certain members of my family have taken to publishing exposes on Chez MJY. It has also come to my attention that certain persons, whom I had considered friends and/or family, have been encouraging this family member and fuelling her pseudo-investigative journalist streak.

Just so you know, I read all your comments, accusations and misplaced smilies. Let not my silence lull you into a false sense of security. Be warned, each one of you who partook in the web of deceit, especially those who implied that Chez MJY operates as an undercover cyber café; you shall get your comeuppance in due course.


For now I have semi-urgent request from a woman from Trindad and Tobago who left a comment on my blog and also sent an email asking:

My name is Keisha. I was looking for some information on Kenyan surnames. The name means ‘Child of God’ or ‘Children of God’ and I know it starts with ‘W’. Can you help. I am from Trinidad and Tobago. I know that Kenya is a large country so I don’t know if I have enough information but if you could help I would be grateful.

I responded to her explaining:

We have about 40+ languages in Kenya and I would imagine that a number of them may have names that mean “Child of God”. Would you happen to know which language it is ?

I speak Kikuyu and we do have a quite a few names starting with W partly because the prefix “Wa-” usually means “child of…” In Kikuyu child of God would become Wangai. (Ngai means God). Perhaps this is the name you are looking for?

Keisha responded saying that it was not “Wangai� so I am passing on the query to anyone who can help, especially our multilingual KBW bloggers.

Thanking you muchly.

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DISCLAIMER: In light of the fact that some of my so-called blog family and friends have overactive imaginations I feel the need to expressly state that this is a genuine request and I am not pregnant and/or searching for prospective baby names. Nor is it an attempt to find myself a new surname so as to disassociate myself from my family (though taking into account events as detailed above….the ide has crossed my mind)

Comments

  1. In Kiluhya the surname “Were” is translated as “of God” as in belonging to God, property of God. Some translate it as Godspeed, others as “children of God”.

    as for the expose .. its all mshairi’s fault, she forced us!

  2. The falling out of thieves. I can see some people selling out their partners in crime, and this is just the beginning.

    Hahahahahahahaha!!! aren’t I glad I did not get invovled in the kisanga.

    As for last names – No comment right now. I am too busy giggling

  3. Ahhhhhh! how could you, Mentalist? You have disowned me!

    MJY – did you notice that all I said about your flat were extremely good and complementary things? I said nice things, then your so-called friends especially the one above, the Friday afternoon conspiracy theorist, brought in all the spy/internet cafe stuff. I rest my case.

  5. tsk tsk haisha haisha makanjo-the lady has spoken and y’all will be punished…y’all are in toruble…

    So? hi there dear-how you been?

  6. Hahhaaa, behold the clock penalty is here ….but before u get to punishing the ‘criminals’ fill us in on how ur vac/weekend was while someone(really good) told us about your lil ‘clock-palace’…lol. I ope u had a good time.

    As for the name, I’d think the same as u (bn partly of the kikuyu origin) but al try get anything to help…

  7. heheh sasa kui hope you enjoyed the vacation. as for the culprits you know mental, akiey @ nick …kwanza look at the way they are pretending not to have been involved.

    lakini the sensors Kui & Mich???????

    am bila clue about the names …..

  8. Kui, nice to have you back. Will give input on the name very soon.
    I would have loved to sit you down & give you a lie detector test concerning your flat:)) Note…I will stand by my not-offensive comments about your place & supposed “near secret agency kind of gadgets” because you’re one person I could easily recruit to join the agency….what of all the worldly experience you have, the Euro-Afro-Carib-American connection you have…list is endless. Oh, plus you seem well capable of multi-tasking, an asset-character in such agencies.

    Does this sound like flattery? I hope not bcoz with a code name like MJY you could remain a nagging mystery on either sides of the law. When you finally retire, you’ll have movies & book deals supplementing your retirement & stuff so worry not you’re present & future are well taken of.

    I agree with Guess…some of us take stuff we say & write chin up like the men & women we are:))
    Am I to blame for what I said? Prolly not…
    Am I responsible for taking part in it? Very yes.
    Are you going to hit back at me? From experience with others(read Nick et al): Definitely so.
    Will I retaliate? I could choose not to so we could remain blog buds or do so to up the ante & ratings of this blog.
    Either way, I stand by Mshairi, Mental & anyone else who partook in this. Unlike J. Timberlake who sold out Janet, I choose to take the fall for all the culprits like Shyne did (for that) lame P.Diddy

  10. aki this must be soooooo late but i still insist on wishing u a belated happy bday..as for the jina,why is wangai wrong??unless now u make it ‘waJesus’/waJeso..thats as best i can figure…..

  12. the closest that comes to what she is looking for is wangai – maybe she was looking for some weird vowel combination that has become commonplace to those of the west who want to pass anything that their heads conjur up and sounds african as swahili equivalents .
    You could give her Wamola or do a direct swa translation and tell her Wamungu.though I dont know if these are in use anywhere

  13. Kui, Maitha and everybody,

    Thank you. I guess my friend is from the West because his name is Wamola. Thanks again.

  14. Heh heh aki Maitha wewe!!!

    Now that the name thingy has been solved…. those culprits should be roasted on stakes.

    But that’s just me!!

  15. I think you should trend carefully with the Trinidad woman , to talk the truth she could just be another sob story of my father died and left the money and i think you should give me your account as my president cannot allow me to the country blah .

    nway being one of those who commented about the clocks. sisemi kitu

  16. No, I assure you I am not another sob story. My father has not died and left me any money blah, blah, blah……………….. but that’s funny.

  18. i am very sceptical about somebody asking for my help especially if i don’t know them. In Kenya if somebody asks even for directions i tell them to ask at the police station. Unless of course you look trustworthy

  21. Hi
    my names Samuel and i’m originally from Mauritius, but my family have what you’ve been told is a kenyan surname.
    Our Surname is Moikeenah or Moikeena, and there are no more of us in mauritius im the last person with this surname whos male. We’ve done some research and we only know that its roots is in kenya.

    Does anyone have any information about our name ‘Moikeena’, like what language its from, if there are any in kenya, what region etc…

    Any information would be GREATLY appreciated!!

    Thank You!