Naming and Name-Giving in Kambari Culture

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how Kambari speakers often use names as linguistic resources to identify individuals in a variety of social functions in everyday informal interactions. Kambari is among the Niger-Congo family of languages, which is situated in the Northern part of Nigeria. The cluster is situated predominantly in some local governments of Niger State and Kebbi State (Magama, Agwara, Rijau, New-Bussa, Mashegu and Bangi –Niger State and Warra, Yauri and Shanga – Kebbi State). The intention of this paper is two-fold: to contribute to research in Kambari cultural names, often limited as a mere verbal play, by illustrating their communicative utility and to present the common functions cultural names fulfil in particular relationships and situations. The data reveal that Kambari cultural name occurs in a wide array of relationships and age group, although it happens in both male and female. The forms cultural names take and the naming patterns depend on the social distance between the participants, their relative social statuses, the context of name-giving and the speakers’ intention. The data for this paper came from natural environment where the Kambari speakers are dominant (in Salka and Raba town) in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, from the researcher’s observations taken from naturally occurring interactions in public and private spheres with the native Kambari speakers of varying ages, gender, social status, occupation and religious affiliations.