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ArchivesRe: Ejigayehu?
in reply to a message by clevelandkentevans
The name was originally used by the Igala and the Idomas adopted the name. The name is also found in Kenya, which is directly southwest of Ethiopia. So, somehow the name has travelled. According to a submission of the name to this site, it originally began as Ejiga and was a name frm the Kogi state of central Nigeria. It doesn't seem to be a very popular name, at least via locatemyname.com which lists 33 in Nigeria, 7 in the UK, 1 in Kenya, and an unstated number in other locations. Egija means pacesetter in regards to an Igala proverb which talks about how if Egija "does not lead the way who will carry the ritual basket?"
The most popular woman with the name Ejigayehu Shibabaw, who is an Ethiopian singer that goes by the diminutive "Gigi," was named with Ejiga as a prefix and Yehu added as a suffix in a nod to her upbringing in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahed church, which has congregations in all of the aforementioned locations. I'm not saying it is fact, because I am unsure, but it is possible that the name Egija travelled as a popular name throughout the congregants of the church and when her parents named her Ejigayehu, fans followed with the use.
Just as kids (yes, even super poor ones) in Africa have heard of Michael Jackson (Michael Jordan used to be the popular one, so I wonder who it is now), its likely that they have heard of popular singers on their own continent.
The most popular woman with the name Ejigayehu Shibabaw, who is an Ethiopian singer that goes by the diminutive "Gigi," was named with Ejiga as a prefix and Yehu added as a suffix in a nod to her upbringing in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahed church, which has congregations in all of the aforementioned locations. I'm not saying it is fact, because I am unsure, but it is possible that the name Egija travelled as a popular name throughout the congregants of the church and when her parents named her Ejigayehu, fans followed with the use.
Just as kids (yes, even super poor ones) in Africa have heard of Michael Jackson (Michael Jordan used to be the popular one, so I wonder who it is now), its likely that they have heard of popular singers on their own continent.
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