Bosede

Bosede is a Yoruba feminine given name and a variant of Abosede, which means "comes with the start of the week" in Yoruba. Traditionally, this name is given to a child born on Sunday (the start of the week in the Yoruba calendar). The name is often shortened to the diminutive Bose.

Notable Bearers

One notable bearer is Bosede Afolabi, a prominent Nigerian obstetrician, gynaecologist, and maternal health researcher. Born in London in 1970, she earned her medical degree from Obafemi Awolowo University and later became a professor and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Her research focuses on maternal anaemia, sickle cell disease in pregnancy, and high-risk obstetric care in sub-Saharan Africa. She is the founder of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Collective and serves as Director at the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science.

Cultural Significance

In Yoruba culture, day-names are highly significant, reflecting the circumstances of birth. "Bosede" specifically honors the day of the week, Sunday, which is considered the start of the week. Similar naming patterns exist for other days: for example, "Abosede" often for a boy born on Sunday, "Ajoke" (a variant of "Ojo") for Monday-born males, etc. This tradition extends across various African cultures, emphasizing the importance of chronological and cosmic timing in naming.

• Meaning: "comes with the start of the week" (born on Sunday)
• Origin: Yoruba (Nigeria)
• Type: Given name (feminine variant)
• Usage regions: Nigeria, Yoruba diaspora
• Related names: Abosede, Bose