A Morphosemantic Study of Death-Related Yorùbá Anthroponyms

Abstract

This paper examines the Yorùbá conceptualisation of death as reflected in personal naming practices, particularly among those who adhere to specific cultural beliefs. It explores the morphosemantic structures underlying death-related anthroponyms within the Yorùbá-speaking communities of West Africa. These names are primarily associated with the notion of àbíkú—a child fated to die and be reborn repeatedly—a belief deeply embedded in Yorùbá traditional religion. Such names encapsulate the emotions of name givers, who express love, grief, desperation, or resignation through their naming choices. Additionally, the study considers names linked to ìpadàwayé, signifying the reincarnation of a deceased ancestor.

The dataset comprises purposively sampled names from the admission lists of universities and degree-awarding institutions across southwestern Nigeria over a five-year period. The analysis highlights the ways in which naming practices are influenced by the lived experiences and perceptions of death and rebirth among the Yorùbá. Name givers may plead with, admonish, appreciate, or even condemn the returning child through the name assigned at birth. Furthermore, death-related names tied to consanguinity serve as linguistic markers of ancestral reincarnation within families.

While modernity has influenced traditional naming conventions, remnants of this practice persist. This study contributes to the broader understanding of the cultural, linguistic, and symbolic dimensions of death in Yorùbá society. It provides a framework for semantic mapping of death-related lexemes, examines sociolinguistic factors affecting the adoption and retention of such names, and explores their broader cultural implications. Additionally, its findings have interdisciplinary relevance across fields such as anthropology, psychology, folklore studies, and literary analysis, enriching the discourse on death-related naming traditions in the Yorùbá context.