Onomastics of Age-Grade Names in the Igbo Community

Abstract

Onomastics of Igbo age-grade names: a fundamental sub-category of African names is the act of naming a group of people that are born in a particular period of time. It is a cultural practice that has survived civilisation and urbanisation, as the Igbo worldwide now join age-grade activities of their hometown via various social media platforms. No previous study has investigated how age-grade names are acquired and classified. Therefore, this study aims to provide a better understanding of how names given to age grades in Igbo communities are created and classified. Qualitative data elicited through one-on-one interviews with 18 members of different age groups in Anam, an Igbo community, were subjected to descriptive and thematic analysis. Findings reveal that age-grade names are acquired during the teenage period mainly by boys (for both males and females) and maintained till death. The different categories of names acquired by members of age grades include testimonial, ideational, monumental, war historical, descendant, praise, and lexical matching names. The age-grade names, like Igbo personal names, reflect the distinctive experience of the bearers. They also serve as a collective identity for all members during social interactions and community engagements.