{{Infobox given name | name = Adwoa | origin = Akan | pronunciation = {{IPA|ak|adʑᶣoa|}} | gender = Female | meaning = born on a Monday; | derivation = ''dwo'' 'peace' |region=Akan people | language = Akan languages | variant forms = Adjoa, Adjua, Adjuba, Juba | related names = * Adwoa (Monday) * Abena (Tuesday) * Akua (Wednesday) * Yaa (Thursday) * Afua (Friday) * Ama (Saturday) * Akosua (Sunday) | footnotes = | wikt= }}
'''Adwoa''' is a given name used for women born on Monday in Western Africa, particularly Ghana and some parts of Togo, southern Benin and Ivory Coast.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.20000-names.com/weekday_names.htm |title = 20000-NAMES.COM: Weekday Names, page 1 of 1--meaning, origin, etymology}}</ref> Day names are a cultural practice of the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. It is actually practiced by all Akan (i.e. all the various Akan subgroups) people who follow traditional customs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Sociolinguistic of Akan Personal Names|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239815297|access-date=2021-04-06|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}</ref> People born on particular days are supposed to exhibit the characteristics or attributes and philosophy, associated with the days. Adwoa has the appellation Badwo or Akoto meaning peace.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The Akan Day Names and Their Embedded Ancient Symbolism|url=https://www.modernghana.com/lifestyle/8691/the-akan-day-names-and-their-embedded-ancient-symb.html|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}</ref> Thus, females named Adwoa are supposed to be peaceful.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />
== Origin and meaning of Adwoa == In the Akan culture, day names are known to be derived from deities. Adwoa is originated from Koyayuda and from the Lord of Life Firmament deity of the day Monday.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Konadu|first=Kwasi|date=2012|title=The Calendrical Factor in Akan History|journal=International Journal of African Historical Studies|volume=45|pages=217–246}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Females born on Monday are known to be calm, peacemakers and protectors. They tend to be nurturing and achieve a balance between strength and compassion.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Female variants of Adwoa == 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.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Kamunya|first=Mercy|date=2018-10-19|title=Akan names and their meanings|url=https://yen.com.gh/115080-akan-names-meanings.html|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Yen.com.gh - Ghana news.|language=en}}</ref> Adwoa is spelt Adwoa by the Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Bono and Ashanti subgroups while the Fante subgroup spell it as ''Adjoa'', ''Ajua'', or ''Ajuba''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The sociolinguistic of Akan personal names |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239815297 |website=Researchgate |page=214}}</ref>
== Male version of Adwoa == 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 Monday ''Kwadwo.''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
==Notable women named Adwoa== Most Ghanaian children have their cultural names in combination with their English or Christian names. Some notable people with such names are: * Adwoa Aboah (born 1992), British model and activist * Adjoa Andoh (born 1963), British actress * Adwoa Smart (born 1971), Ghanaian actress * Adjoa Bayor (born 1979), Ghanaian footballer * Adwoa Yamoah (born 1986), Canadian cheerleader
==References== <references />
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080515192151/http://www.pbs.org/previews/pov-tracesofthetrade/ Adjua page] from ''Traces of the Trade'' site
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Category:Akan given names Category:Feminine given names Category:African feminine given names Category:Monday