ABSTRACT
The natural seasons in agriculturalist communities provide an important reservoir of names in several East African communities. Among the Bagisu, male and female children born during a famine are named Wantsala and Nanzala, respectively, after insala, meaning “hunger.” Similarly, the male and female children born during a drought are named Nasimiyu or Simiyu-after Simiyu, meaning “drought.” A boy born in the rainy season is named Wafula, and a girl is named Nafula. A girl born during the time of sowing may be called Nakhumitsa, during the weeding time, Nekesa, and during the ploughing time, Nelima.
