RETHINKING THE ETHNOLOGY OF NAMES AS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Traditional channels of communication represent the most potent mechanism for communication among the various peoples of Africa. In Nigeria, names are channels of communication. Names are what people are known with and are called. From culture to culture, names communicate and tell stories about people and events/occurrences at the time of christening. The extent to which names are still appreciated in Africa as channels of communication in an era of westernization and globalization that has threatened this Afro-communication channel prompted this research. This study was tailored towards evaluating the exogenous and endogenous forces affecting names as ethnological communication mode, while using the study to descriptively bring this mode of communication to the fore in the face of westernization and modernity. Survey methodological approach was adopted. The study population was taken from six randomly selected states from the six geopolitical zones (Delta, Abia, Ekiti, Kaduna, Bauchi and Benue) which is 24,278,873 as obtained from the National Population Commission’s official website. The researchers used questionnaire in collecting of primary data. Representative sample of 278 was scientifically determined. Six research volunteers were trained and deployed to each of the six geopolitical zones. Evidence from research data reveals that Name as a veritable mode of communication in Africa, Nigeria in particular is grossly being cannibalized and is on the verge of dying. It was concluded that Despite the central place of African ethnocommunication in the perpetuation of African cultures, native or traditional names that should be an integral aspect of communication studies has been neglected by communication scholars. It was recommended amongst others that Nigerians must as a matter of necessity and urgency, identify themselves greatly with African traditional names, by being proud of their native names which serves as cultural heritage and identity.