The Meaning of ‘Home’ in African Languages
By: Chimdindu Ken-Anaukwu
What does ‘home’ mean to you?
For some, it’s a physical place—a house, a village, or a familiar street. For others, it’s a feeling—a sense of belonging, warmth, and identity. In Africa, ‘home’ goes beyond four walls. It is ancestry, community, and shared history.
Across the continent, African languages capture the richness of ‘home’ in ways that English often cannot. This Black History Month, let’s explore how different African cultures define ‘home’—and why understanding these meanings can deepen our connection to our roots.
1. ‘Home’ as Family & Kinship
Many African languages express ‘home’ through the lens of family and lineage.
🟠 Igbo (Nigeria): ‘Ụlọ’ & ‘Obi’
In Igbo, ụlọ means both "house" and "home," but obi (the heart of the home) refers to the ancestral seat of a family. The phrase obi dị m mma (my heart is good) conveys emotional peace—because in Igbo culture, home is where the heart is.
🟠 Yoruba (Nigeria & Benin): ‘Ile’
In Yoruba, ilé means "home," but it extends beyond an individual’s house. Ile baba mi (my father’s home) refers to one's ancestral home, a place deeply tied to family history. Yoruba proverbs often say, Ile l’abo simi oko—"Home is the resting place after all journeys."
🟠 Twi (Ghana): ‘Fi’ & ‘Fie’
In Twi, fi (home) and fie (house) carry deep connotations of family. The Akan people say, Obi kyere obi fie—“One does not show another person their own home,” meaning that home is where your identity is already known.
📍 The Takeaway: In many African cultures, home isn’t just where you live—it’s where your family’s story is written.
2. ‘Home’ as Community & Belonging
Some African languages emphasize home as a shared space, a place where people take care of one another.
🔵 Swahili (East Africa): ‘Nyumbani’
In Swahili, nyumbani means "home," but the concept extends beyond an individual household. It reflects a broader sense of community and shared responsibility. The Swahili saying Mgeni njoo, mwenyeji apone—"Let the guest come, so the host may be blessed"—highlights hospitality as a central part of home.
🔵 Zulu (South Africa): ‘Ikhaya’
In Zulu, ikhaya means "home," but it also represents a gathering space where generations pass down knowledge. The phrase Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu—"A person is a person through others"—shows how home is a place where people shape one another.
🔵 Hausa (West Africa): ‘Gida’
In Hausa, gida refers to both a house and a compound where multiple families live together. This communal structure reinforces kinship and shared responsibility. Hausa proverbs like Gida ba'a gina da dutse sai da mutãne—"A home is not built with stones, but with people"—show the importance of relationships over physical structures.
📍 The Takeaway: Home is not just a place you live—it’s the people who make you feel like you belong.
3. ‘Home’ as Roots & Ancestry
For many Africans and members of the diaspora, home isn’t just where they are—it’s where they come from.
🟢 Amharic (Ethiopia): ‘Bet’ & ‘Agär’
In Amharic, bet means "house," while agär means "homeland" or "country." Many Ethiopians in the diaspora refer to Ethiopia as agäré—the place of their ancestors, no matter where they live now.
🟢 Somali: ‘Guriga’ & ‘Hoy’
In Somali, guriga means "home" in a physical sense, while hoy is a deeper word that means "refuge" or "a place of safety." The phrase Hoy la'aan waa nolol la'aan—"Without a home, there is no life"—reflects the Somali view of home as a sanctuary, not just a structure.
🟢 Lingala (Congo): ‘Ndako’
In Lingala, ndako means "home," but it is also used in phrases that refer to returning to one's origins. The idea of Kozonga ndako—"going back home"—is significant for many in the Congolese diaspora, symbolizing a spiritual and emotional return to their roots.
📍 The Takeaway: To many Africans and African descendants, home is not just where they live—it’s where their ancestors came from and where their spirit feels whole.
4. ‘Home’ for the African Diaspora
For millions of African descendants around the world, home is a complex, layered identity. It is shaped by history, migration, and the search for reconnection.
🌍 In Haiti, words like lakay (home) reflect the Creole blend of African, French, and Caribbean influences.
🌍 In Brazil, the Yoruba word ilé is still used in Candomblé religious practices, linking Afro-Brazilians to their West African heritage.
🌍 In the U.S., African Americans have long sought to reconnect with Africa, adopting phrases like Motherland to describe their ancestral home.
For the diaspora, home is not just a place—it is a journey of rediscovery.
📍 The Takeaway: For Africans in the diaspora, home is both where they are and where they come from—a dual identity that bridges continents and cultures.
NKENNE: Helping You Reconnect with ‘Home’
At NKENNE, we believe that learning an African language is one of the most powerful ways to reclaim your roots and redefine ‘home’ for yourself.
Every word you learn brings you closer to your history. Every phrase you speak strengthens your connection to your ancestors.
📲 This Black History Month, take a step home—one word at a time. Download NKENNE and start learning your language today.
Because ‘home’ is not just where you are. It’s where you belong. ❤️🏡