Nurturing Igbo Identity
A Socio-Pragmatic Study of Naming Practices Among Diasporic Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8135666 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Akumjika Chikamma Michael (0000-0002-6024-2859, University of Calabar), Olubunmi Funmi Oyebanji (0000-0003-0269-8548, Afe Babalola University), Victoria Enefiok Etim (0000-0002-6760-3776, University of Calabar) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 7 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Genealogy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2313-5778 • E-ISSN: 2313-5778 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/genealogy10010007 |
| OpenAlex | W7117965149 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 16 |
The paper explores how the diasporic Igbo community portrays its cultural identity through personal names and naming practices in a globalised context. The study employs a qualitative approach, involving computer-assisted semi-structured interviews with 26 diasporic Igbo individuals residing in the United States of America (USA), to examine how names are constructed to reflect cultural identity, community ties, and connections to the Igbo society. The paper adopts the sociocultural linguistic theory of identity to examine how culture and society shape language use, analysing names as social acts that establish connections to the Igbo community and cultural heritage. The paper examines how Igbo migrants negotiate traditional naming practices in the diaspora and communicate their cultural identity and worldviews through naming. The findings reveal that the diaspora Igbo community conveys its cultural identity, migration history, and emotional connection to its homeland while maintaining social relationships in its host country. The study will provide insight into the role of names in preserving cultural identity and fostering a sense of belonging among the diasporic Igbo community
Cultural identity · Diaspora · Ethnic group · Homeland · Identity (music · Igbo · Sociocultural evolution · Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration · Multilingual Education and Policy · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research
The ethnopragmatics of Yoruba personal names
A Socio-Pragmatic Perspective of Some Wealth Names Ascribed to Married Igbo Women in Nigeria
The sociocultural significance of naming practices among the amaXhosa
Child of an outcast
A Semantic Analysis of Personal Names in Datooga Society
Bright vs. blurred boundaries
Boundary-Maintenance” or “Boundary-Crossing”? Name-Giving Practices among Immigrants in Germany
The communicative significance of Ngə̂mbà personal names
Shift in Igbo Personal Naming Patterns
Identity and interaction
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |