Naming Patterns among Northern Sotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda Communities of SA: Religio-cultural Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2412-4265/8010Keywords:
South African communities, naming patterns, indigenous names, African cultural heritageAbstract
This study discusses naming patterns and practices of three South African indigenous groups as representative examples, namely Northern Sotho, Xitsonga and Tshivenda, from a religio-cultural perspective. In almost every African culture and tradition, newly-born babies receive their names immediately after birth. Names are usually predetermined when the mother is pregnant. Although in numerous instances the parents are responsible for naming the baby, family members (e.g., aunts, grandparents, brothers, or sisters) may also suggest a name. The naming of babies is not a random exercise because religio-cultural meanings are attached to a name. By utilising a narrative approach as a method, the article argues that indigenous names carry meanings, and each name tells a story. The study aims at demonstrating that names play a significant role in the preservation, documentation and promotion of cultural heritage. The discussion commences by exploring naming patterns from a biblical perspective in order to provide a matrix for a religio-cultural thrust of child-naming within the aforementioned South African indigenous groups.
Metrics
References
Anim, N. O. 1993. Names as a Factor in Cultural Identity among the Akan: Ga and Ewe of Ghana. Pretoria: Centre for Development Analysis.
Appiah, B. 2010. “African Names: A Guide for Editors.” Features 13 (1): 15–17.
Arowolo, D. 2010. “The Effects of Western Civilization and Culture on Africa.” Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences 1 (1): 1–13.
Borkfelt, S. 2011. “What’s in a Name? Consequences of Naming non-Human animals.” Animals 1: 116–125. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1010116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1010116
Campbell, M., and T. Campbell. 1996. “Behind the Name.” Accessed November 7, 2017. http://www.behindthename.com/name/michael.
Chitando, E. 2001. “Beyond Phenomenology: Teaching African Traditional Religions in a Zimbabwean University.” ZJER 13 (2): 177–195. https://doi.org/10.4314/zjer.v13i2.25999. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/zjer.v13i2.25999
Dreyer, Y. 2001. “Son-of-God Traditions in the Synoptic Gospels: Ferdinand Hahn’s Diachronic Perspective.” HTS 57 (1&2): 506–539. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v57i1/2.1878. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v57i1/2.1878
Feely, J. M. 2009. “IsiXhosa Names of South African Land Mammals.” African Zoology 44 (2): 141–150. https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2009.11407448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15627020.2009.11407448
Frankel, R. M., K. J. Devers, and J. Kelly. 2000. “Qualitative Research: A Consumer Guide.” Change and Practice 13 (1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/135762800110664. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/135762800110664
Guma, M. 2001. “The Cultural Meaning of Names among Basotho of Southern Africa: A Historical and Linguistic Analysis.” Nordic Journal of African Studies 10 (3): 265–279.
Haber, H. 2001. “Theophoric Names in the Bible.” Jewish Bible Quarterly 29 (1).
Hahn, F. 1974. Christologische Hoheitstitel: Ihre Geschichte im Frohen Christentum. 4. Aufl. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht.
Hanks, P. (n.d.). “General Information.” Accessed November 7, 2017. http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/surnames/papers/Hanks_background.pdf. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45344-0_1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-45344-0_1
Hoffman, L. A. 1996. Covenant of Blood. Chicago: University of Chicago.
Jobling, A. M. 2001. “In the Name of the Father: Surnames and Genetics.” Trends in Genetics 17 (6): 353–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(01)02284-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(01)02284-3
Kierkegaard, S. 1962. The Present Age. New York: Harper Torchback.
Knight, D., and A-J. Levine. 2011. The Meaning of the Bible: What the Jewish Scriptures and Christian Old Testament Can Teach us, 1st edition. New York: Harper One.
Koma, H. M. 2012. “An Analysis of Given and Inherited Names among the Northern Sotho Speaking People in Moletjie and Sekhukhune: Limpopo Province: An Onomastic Perspective.” MA dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Liddel, H. G., and R. Scott. 1953. Greek-English Lexicon, 9th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lucock, C., and M. Yeo. 2006. “Naming Names: The Pseudonym in the Name of the Law.” University of Ottawa Law and Technology Journal 3 (1): 53–108.
Makhubedu, M. G. 2009. “The Significance of Traditional Names among the Northern Sotho Speaking People Residing within the Greater Baphalaborwa Municipality in the Limpopo Province.” Master’s dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Mandende, I. P. 2009. “A Study of Tshivenda Personal Names.” PhD thesis. University of South Africa.
Mbiti. J. S. 1990. African Religions and Philosophy, second revised and enlarged edition. London: Heinemann.
Mohome, P. M. 2013. “Naming in Sesotho: Its Sociocultural and Linguistic Basis.” A Journal of Onomastics 20 (3): 171–185. https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171.
Mohome, P. M. 1972. Naming in Sesotho: Its Socio-cultural and Linguistic Basis. New York: University College. https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/nam.1972.20.3.171
Mokhathi-Mbhele, M. M. L. 2016. “Describing Sesotho Names as Clause Complexes in Social Discourse: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach.” International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies 4 (4): 21–38.
Mphela, K. L. 2010. “An Analysis of Personal Naming in Moletjie Area of the Limpopo Province: An Onomastic Approach.” MA dissertation. University of Limpopo.
Musere, J., and S. C. Byakutaga. 1999. African Names and Naming. Los Angeles: Ariko Publications.
Mutunda, S. 2016. “Luvabe Personal Names and Naming Practices: A Socio-cultural Analysis.” International Journal of Education: Culture and Society 1 (3): 75–81.
Neethling, B. 2003. “Perceptions around the English Name of Xhosa Speakers.” Nomina Africana 17 (2): 47–65.
Neethling, B. 2004. “Name Choices among the Xhosa of South Africa.” The Language Quarterly XXIX (4): 1–32.
Nyambi, O., T. Mangena, and C. Pfukwa (Eds). 2016. The Postcolonial Condition of Names and Naming Practices in Southern Africa. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Olusola, A. G. 2005. “Animals in the Traditional Worldview of the Yoruba.” Folklore 30: 155–172. https://doi.org/10.7592/FEJF2005.30.olusala. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7592/FEJF2005.30.olusala
Olatunji, A., and M. Issah. 2015. “Personal Name as a Reality of Everyday Life: Naming Dynamics in Select African Societies.” The Journal of Pan African Studies 8 (3): 72–90.
Pelczar, W. M. 2001. “Names as Tokens and Names as Tools.” Synthese 128: 133–155. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010304825913. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010304825913
Rugwiji, T. 2013. “Appropriating Judean Postexilic Literature in a Postcolonial Discourse: A Case for Zimbabwe.” PhD thesis. University of South Africa.
Rugwiji, T. 2014. “The Salvific Task of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 42: 1–7: A Contemporary Perspective.” Journal for Semitics 23 (2): 289–314. https://doi.org/10.25159/1013-8471/3492. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25159/1013-8471/3492
Sachs, J. D., and A. M. Warner. 1996. “Sources of Slow Growth in African Economies.” Journal of African Economies 6 (3): 335–376. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jae.a020932. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jae.a020932
Sampson, R., J. Morenoff, and T. Gannon-Rowley. 2002. “Assessing ‘Neighbourhood Effects’: Social Processes and New Directions in Research.” Annual Review of Sociology 28:443–478. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.28.110601.141114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.28.110601.141114
Scott, E. S. 2004. “Marriage, Cohabitation and Collective Responsibility for Dependency.” University of Chicago Legal Forum 1 (7): 225–264.
Smith-Bannister, S. 1997. Names and Naming Patterns in England: 1538–1700. Oxford: Clarendon Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198206637.001.0001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198206637.001.0001
Smith, D. S. 1974. “Child-naming Practices as Cultural and Familial Indicators.” Local Population Studies 32: 17–27.
Suzman, S. M. 1994. “Names as Pointers: Zulu Personal Naming Practices.” Language in Society 23: 253–72. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500017851. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500017851
Tonkin, E. 1980. “Jealousy Names: Civilised Names: Anthroponomy of the Jlao Kru of Liberia.” Man 15: 643–64. https://doi.org/10.2307/2801538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2801538
Waters, J. J. 1984. “Naming and Kinship in New England: Guilford Patterns and Usage, 1693–1759.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 138: 161–162.
Wilson, S. 1998. The Means of Naming: A Social and Cultural History of Personal Names in Western Europe. Bristol: Penn: ULC Press.
Yen, I., and S. L. Syme. 1999. “The Social Environment and Health: A Discussion of the Epidemiologic Literature.” Annual Review of Public Health 20: 287–308. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.20.1.287. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.20.1.287
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Prof Mokgale A. Makgopa , Temba T. Rugwiji
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2021-11-26
Published 2022-01-25