In a message dated 8/8/99 7:40:21 AM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << Momodou PS I'm not sure whether Jabou added the following to her list : Nyanya, Kojo, Hoyan, Njuga, Anna, Yassin, Oseh, Ebu, Bola, Abioseh, Tunde etc I am not suggesting that these are 'typical' Gambian names, but are names that are not common on the List. >> ***************** Momodou, My understanding is that Saiks is looking for names that do not have an English or Arabic origin, but are names that were used in our culture before our encounter with the Western World or Islam, i.e. traditional Mandinka, Wollof, Jolla, Sererr names, just to name a few since there are certainly many more groups in Gambia. Some of the names you have mentioned above such as Ebou and Yassin clearly have Arabic origins, and the name Anna l would guess has an English origin or at least Western. The other ones such as Kojo, Oseh, Bola , Abiosa, Tunde l will venture to guess have maybe Nigerian or Ghanaian origins? Just a guess on this one. Jabou ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------