Beyond usage to the communicative elements of nicknames among Ágábá Boys in Calabar South, Nigeria
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19224754 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Edemekong Lawson Ekpe (University of Calabar), Patrick Ene Okon (0000-0001-8474-5920, University of Calabar, corresponding author), Presly ‘Ruke Obukoadata (0000-0003-4913-9313, Delta Air Lines (United States)), Eric Ugor Ogri (University of Calabar) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-19 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | African Identities (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1472-5843 • E-ISSN: 1472-5851 |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14725843.2026.2685293 |
| OpenAlex | W7163749640 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 14 |
This study examined nicknames of Ágábá Boys in Calabar South, Nigeria, and investigated the derivations, origins and communicative imports of nicknames among this youth group. This work was grounded in the socio-onomastic theory of nicknames, and based on contextual and cultural conventions. Data were collected through unstructured interviews, observations and informal conversations with members of this group in Calabar South. A snowballed sampling technique was used in drawing a sample of 60 participants, with 15 members from each of the four broad Agaba groups that exist in Calabar South. The data gathered were categorised and analysed under 15 sub-sects. This study revealed that the Ágábá Boys derive their nicknames from music idols with strong ties to gang violence, violent oriented lyrics, acts of notoriety, football icons, movie stars with penchants for deviancy, international controversial figures, coinages, clippings, lifestyle, physical attributes, and place names, among others. The study showed that Ágábá Boys create and define their identity; express in-group code, and enable group integration sufficiently through nicknames. They also express their worldview, culture and thoughts through nicknames. The study recommended a further study of the Agaba girls, a splinter group discovered during the study.
Discourse analysis · Ethnography · Representation (politics) · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research · Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism
Language and Identities
The functional value of unconventional names in contemporary society
Toward a Theory of Nicknames
Changing trends of clothing as cultural communication and negotiation of identity among the Efik people of Nigeria
Identity Framing as Resilience in Selected Nicknames of Nigerian Street Children
First names in social and ethnic contexts
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |