Culture Of Names In Africa
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Culture Of Names In Africa
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Author : Emma Umana Clasberry
language : en
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Release Date : 2012-01-12
Culture Of Names In Africa written by Emma Umana Clasberry and has been published by Xlibris Corporation this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2012-01-12 with Social Science categories.
INTRODUCTION Personal name is a vital aspect of cultural identity. As a child, you may have loved or hated your name. But you were rarely indifferent to it. “What’s in a name?” Shakespeare asked. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, he explained. Perhaps in England or somewhere else in Europe, but not in Africa. Personal names in African have meanings, can affect personality, hinder or enhance life initiatives. They serve to establish a connection between name and cultural background, and thus, provide some information about cultural affinity and more, such as express one’s spirituality, philosophy of life, political or socio-economic status as defined by a given ethnic cleavage. African names tell stories, convert abstract ideas to stories, and tell story of the story about different aspects of one’s life. They commemorate any unusual circumstance the family or community once experienced, or world event that took place around the time of a child’s birth. Outside a given cultural environment, names boost and nurture cultural pride and identity, showcase a people’s appreciation of their culture and their readiness to defend and live their culture with pride and dignity. Naming practices that tell histories behind the names were the norms in Nigeria-Ibibio, and in fact, in Africa, until the encroachment of two historical forces in Africans’ affairs. Christianization and colonization, more than any other forces in history, shattered the connection between personal name and cultural affinity, and have ever-since contributed to the gradual erosion of African culture of names. On the continent, the combined efforts of their human agents - the missionaries and British colonial personnel, directly and indirectly, through their policies and practices, caused African- Nigerians to give up their culture relevant names in favor of foreign ones. Apart from direct erosion of culture of names, ‘colonial administration’ (a term I use mostly to refer to the combined efforts of the missionaries and British colonial personnel) in Nigeria abrogated many religious, socio-economic and political traditions which were intimately intertwined with the people’s naming practices. Their attempt to replace African traditions with European ones through coercing Africans to accept Western values and beliefs consequently disabled many desirable African traditional structures, including authentic African naming practices, and caused some to fall into disuse. A third force was early European-African trade. Although the impact of the presence of European merchants in Nigeria was minimal in this regard, some of their activities have also left a dent on African naming practices by introducing foreign bodies into the people’s names database. Even though these alien forces invaded and injected foreign values into Africa over a century ago, their impact on naming practices continues to be felt by Africans. European intrusion in relation to African naming practices did not end on the continent. The Trans- Atlantic Trade on human cargo was another major historical event that did not only forcefully disconnect many Africans from their cultural root and natural habitat, but also mutilated authentic African naming practices among them. Consequently, Africans in Diaspora had European names imposed upon them by their slave masters. Today, many Africans on the continent and in Diaspora continue to carry names which are foreign, names whose meanings they do not know, names the bearers can not even pronounce correctly in some ethnic contexts, and names which have no relevance to nor any form of link with the bearers’ cultural background. In effect, culture of names, as many other African customary practices, has lost its savor. Some peoples of African descent still cherish these colonized names. Some do not, and are making practical efforts to reclaim authentic African cul
Naming Africans
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Author : Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí
language : en
Publisher: Springer Nature
Release Date : 2023-06-08
Naming Africans written by Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí and has been published by Springer Nature this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2023-06-08 with Social Science categories.
Focusing on the epistemic value of African names, this edited collection is based on the premise that personal names constitute valuable sources of historical and ethnographic information and help to unveil endogenous forms of knowledge. The chapters assembled here document and analyze personal names and naming practices in a slew of African societies on the geographically vast and ethnically diverse continent, including contributions on the naming practices in Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. The contributors to this anthology are scholars from different African language communities who investigate names and naming practices diachronically. Taken together, their work offers a comparative focus that juxtaposes different African cultures and reveals the historical and epistemic significance of given names.
The African Book Of Names
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Author : Askhari Johnson Hodari
language : en
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date : 2010-01-01
The African Book Of Names written by Askhari Johnson Hodari and has been published by Simon and Schuster this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2010-01-01 with Family & Relationships categories.
From an author who adopted an African name as an adult comes the most inclusive book of African names. Obama, Iman, Kanye, Laila—authentic African names are appearing more often in nurseries, classrooms, and boardrooms. The African Book of Names offers readers more than 5,000 common and uncommon names organized by theme from 37 countries and at least 70 different ethnolinguistic groups. Destined to become a classic keepsake, The African Book of Names shares in-depth insight about the spiritual, social, and political importance of names from Angola to Zimbabwe. As the most far-reaching book on the subject, this timely and informative resource guide vibrates with the culture of Africa and encourages Blacks across the globe to affirm their African origins by selecting African names. In addition to thousands of names from north, south, east, central and west Africa, the book shares: A checklist of dos and don'ts to consider when choosing a name—from sound and rhythm to origin and meaning A guide to conducting your own African-centered naming ceremony A 200-year naming calendar
Traditional African Names
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Author : Jonathan Musere
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2000
Traditional African Names written by Jonathan Musere and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2000 with Family & Relationships categories.
African names are elaborately structured and contain more than one possible interpretation of meaning. They can associate one with family, location, and occupation. Many commemorate major occurrences or traditions of the culture. The range of significance is broad, making an understanding of African names not just a valuable personal tool, but also a study aid to African culture and traditions. Traditional African Names considers primarily countries around the African Lakes such as Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zaire, and Zimbabwe, but a wide variety of names from other southern African countries are included as well. Using thousands of detailed examples, the book identifies the genesis and evolution in African name formation and meaning. Many of the 6,000 names (complete with pronunciation guidelines) are treated in English for the first time. Each entry discusses the origins of the name, its meaning, and the wide cultural and social connotations of its use, as well as variations and differences in the meanings of similar words used in related ethnic contexts. This analysis provides a unique reservoir of information concerning migration, assimilation, and cultural cross-connection.
African Muslim Names
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Author : Sharifa Zawawi
language : en
Publisher: Africa Research and Publications
Release Date : 1998
African Muslim Names written by Sharifa Zawawi and has been published by Africa Research and Publications this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1998 with Language Arts & Disciplines categories.
A name reflects and reinforces an identity both when it is given and when it is changed. This book discusses the social and cultural significance of African Muslim proper names. It explains how names are chosen for newborns in African societies and the value they represent. In these days of mounting interest in identity and culture, many Muslim Africans, African-Americans and others wish to know the meanings of the names they choose so that they reflect their aspirations for their children and themselves.The book contributes cultural knowledge to today's discourse on the values and aspiration of people of different faiths. Given the long history of Islam in Africa, Muslim names communicate an old civilization encompassing a multicultural community. The book also documents African language contact throughout the continent. The world is both united and divided by its languages and their vocabularies and is similarly united and divided by names. Sharifa Zawawi draws on history, linguistics, anthropology and religion to provide a study of Muslim personal names in the context of family relationships, adoption, marriage, conversion, and social movements. The work first examines Muslim names and naming in the Qur'aan and in stories or traditions about the Prophet Muhammad. Secondly, it uses contemporary African publications, literature, journalism and telephone directories from west and east Africa and lists of names compiled by Africans living in west and east Africa. The African Muslim names to be found here come mainly from two languages; Hausa-Fulani and Kiswahili -- the two major African languages spoken by millions of people throughout the African continent.
From Adjoa To Zahara
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Author : Julia Stewart
language : en
Publisher: Gramercy
Release Date : 2007
From Adjoa To Zahara written by Julia Stewart and has been published by Gramercy this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2007 with Language Arts & Disciplines categories.
FROM ADJOA TO ZAHARA is a treasure trove for anyone looking for a unique name that evokes a rich heritage for a baby or an adult, as well as anyone interested in African culture. Here are more than 1000 names with pronunciation, meaning, gender, country of origin, and general background information, including: · Adwin — a Akan of Ghana male name meaning “artist” or “thinker” · Farida — a Muslim female name meaning “precious pearl, only one, unique” · Juma — a Swahili name for males born on Friday · Lomela — a river in central Zaire, and a name for girls · Mandisa — Xhosa of South Africa female name meaning “sweet” · Rakanja — a male name of the Muarusha people of Tanzania · Tanala — a girls’ name meaning “people of the forest,” a group from eastern Madagascar · Zesiro — a Buganda of Uganda name for the firstborn of twins Brimming with fascinating facts about the cultures and rulers of the vast and diverse African nation, FROM ADJOA TO ZAHARA offers, in addition to the myriad name suggestions, quotes, proverbs, and poems about names and birth. There is also a section on cross-cultural references and meanings for the many African names that share Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, and other heritage. In the appendices is a list of modern African rulers, a list of suggested reading and places to go for further research, and a description of several African language families. Also included is practical information on changing names, including naming trends and the legalities of name changing. There is even a section on fun and silly African names for children, cherished friends, or pets. This comprehensive and fascinating book is an invaluable guide to the incredibly diverse names from the vast and varied African continent.
Place Names In Africa
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Author : Liora Bigon
language : en
Publisher: Springer
Release Date : 2016-06-06
Place Names In Africa written by Liora Bigon and has been published by Springer this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2016-06-06 with Science categories.
This volume examines the discursive relations between indigenous, colonial and post-colonial legacies of place-naming in Africa in terms of the production of urban space and place. It is conducted by tracing and analysing place-naming processes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa during colonial times (British, French, Belgian, Portuguese), with a considerable attention to both the pre-colonial and post-colonial situations. By combining in-depth area studies research – some of the contributions are of ethnographic quality – with colonial history, planning history and geography, the authors intend to show that culture matters in research on place names. This volume goes beyond the recent understanding obtained in critical studies of nomenclature, normally based on lists of official names, that place naming reflects the power of political regimes, nationalism, and ideology.
Dictionary Of African Names
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Author : Bunmi Adebayo
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2021-09-16
Dictionary Of African Names written by Bunmi Adebayo and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2021-09-16 with History categories.
This book publishes thousands of African names, their ethnic and country of origin, and English phonetic pronunciation. The book is for those interested in African names and general readers seeking more knowledge about African culture or willing to recapture African heritage through name. It is a thorough exposure of African names and meanings. It encourages and stimulates people of both African and non-African descent into feeling comfortable about taking on such names.
Names From Africa
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Author : Ogonna Chuks-orji
language : en
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Company (IL)
Release Date : 1972
Names From Africa written by Ogonna Chuks-orji and has been published by Johnson Publishing Company (IL) this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1972 with Language Arts & Disciplines categories.
"The giving of names is of great importance in Africa. People are named after events, happenings, great things, the days of the week, or the order in which they were born. For example, if a couple had long wanted a son, in Nigeria they may call him "Ayinde" (Yoruba), meaning the one we prayed for. In Ghana, if a boy is born on Saturday he is called "Kwame" (Akan). In Tanzania, the second born of twins will be called "Doto" (Zaramo). People have asked me whether names like James, Gary, or Francis could be translated into African form. There is no direct translation from English names to African, but if we go back to the original meaning of an English name, we can often find an African equivalent. For example, the English Theodore and the Ibo "Okechuku" both mean "God's gift."--From preface.
Naming And Othering In Africa
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Author : Sambulo Ndlovu
language : en
Publisher: Routledge
Release Date : 2021-12-30
Naming And Othering In Africa written by Sambulo Ndlovu and has been published by Routledge this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2021-12-30 with Language Arts & Disciplines categories.
This book examines how names in Africa have been fashioned to create dominance and subjugation, inclusion and exclusion, others and self. Drawing on global and African examples, but with particular reference to Zimbabwe, the author demonstrates how names are used in class, race, ethnic, national, gender, sexuality, religious and business struggles in society as weapons by ingroups and outgroups. Using Othering theory as a framework, the chapters explore themes such as globalised names and their demonstration of the other; onomastic erasure in colonial naming and the subsequent decoloniality in African name changes; othering of women in onomastics and crude and sophisticated phaulisms in the areas of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability and sexuality. Highlighting social power dynamics through onomastics, this book will be of interest to researchers of onomastics, social anthropology, sociolinguistics and African culture and history.