The Socio-Semantics of Afo Names in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66811/9d3sb115Keywords:
Socio-Semantics, Afo, Names, Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa StateAbstract
This study investigates the onomastic and semantic significance of Afo names in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, with the aim of explaining how they encode cultural values, beliefs, and social experiences beyond mere identification. Anchored in onomastic and semantic theory, the research examines Afo names as non-sentential lexical forms whose meanings are realized through cultural symbolism and social interpretation rather than communicative performance. A qualitative descriptive design was adopted, with data collected through semi-structured interviews with elders, name-bearers, and community members, complemented by observations in three Afo-speaking communities: Apawu, Kana, and Udege. Qualitative analysis of ten selected names reveals distinct semantic domains and cultural motivations reflecting nature, environment, emotion, spirituality, ritual life, family narratives, and social status. Names such as Uperemi (“vulture”) and O’guzeh (“road”) encode environmental experience and endurance, while Ukpo (“God”) and Ogba (“born during deity festival”) reflect spiritual belief and ritual affiliation. Onye (“happiness”) and Ukpomo (“death”) preserve emotional and existential meanings, and Osu (“king”) encodes leadership and social hierarchy. These names function as semantic repositories of cultural knowledge that reinforce identity, collective memory, and social cohesion. The study concludes that Afo names are enduring linguistic artifacts that sustain cultural heritage and worldview amid pressures of language endangerment.
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