What Is The Meaning Of The Name Kunta Kinte?

Ok I no this answer it is black slave so I found this out after watchin this in history class when I was in school so I started calling my friend it but dident no what it meant everytime I sed it it got him more angry I sed sorry mate what does it mean he sed black slave and hes afrcian so I think he should no

That is hard to find.  Kunta Kinte was a member of the Mankinka tribe of The Gambia in Africa c. 1750. The Mandinka-English dictionary published by the Peace Corps ( 1995, The Gambia) shows these meanings:  Kunta (as a noun) a man's name or surname  and kunta (as a verb) to fit (as in "does it fit in the box?")   The words Kuni, Kunindi, and kuninta may possibly be words from which "Kunta" derived.  They all are variations on a theme meaning to awaken, be awake, or to be aware.   Derivation of the name Kunta from these words is only a guess on my part, however.  
The word Kinte is not listed; we assume it was the family surname.  

One of the reasons Kunta's name was important in the story of Roots was that he was forced to give up his native name (and therefore his idenity as anything more than a slave) by the person who became his "Master".  He was forced to take the name "toby" , which some say means "to serve", a further demoralizing blow.  

Anyway, here is the link to the Mandinka-English dictionary.  You may find it helpful to look further yourself.  Good luck!
And please rate my anwer if this was helpful to you.

www.geocities.com