by Chinazo Echezona-Johnson

Created on: March 11, 2008   Last Updated: July 08, 2009

Chi has many meanings in many disciplines, cultures and societies. For instance, it is the Chinese word to describe the natural energy of the universe. Also, Chi is the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet. What's more, Chi is a letter in a Japanese script. Even in statistics, Chi or Chi squared is used explain probability distribution. However, in Igbo tribe of Nigeria, Chi has an exciting and unique meaning.

In Igbo language, Chi means a personal spiritual guide or a personal spiritual assistant. The Igbos believe that everybody has this spiritual guide or a mystical assistant from birth through death. This spiritual assistant is not God. It is believed that each person's Chi will determine the destiny of each person. The success or failure of each person is dependent on the Chi of the person. For instance, successful people in the society are believed to have a good Chi. On the other hand, successful people with numerous misfortunes are believed to have a bad Chi. It is also believed that the personal Chi will intervene on behalf of individuals in the spirit world.

In addition, since most Igbos are Christians, they differentiate the Chi from the supreme, Christian God. God is considered to be the biggest Chi, and that God creates all living things. In Igbo language, God is known as Chineke (Spiritual being that creates) or Chukwu or Chiukwu (Spiritual being that is the biggest). The culture accept as true that God has no gender. As a result, most Nigerian names have Chi as a prefix. The Igbo names starting with Chi can either be for a male or female, and the names always have something to do with God.

As many Nigerians migrate to the western countries, they have continued the tradition as a reverence to their culture and their religious beliefs. They have continued to combine the prefix with the western names to call their children. For Instance, Chipaul (means spiritual being for Paul), Chiwin (the spiritual being wins). On the other hand, the more traditional names always have a meaning that esteems God for instance Chioma (a good God), Chiamaka (a beautiful God), and Chinazo (God saves).

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