THE SIGNIFICANCE/BENEFITS OF NAMING IN THE LAND OF AHANTA
1. SOURCE OF IDENTITY
First and foremost, names are ascribed to individuals to serve as their means of identity. It is
believed that as a human coming to co-exist with other fellow humans in a society, adducing
a name to a child will be his primary means of identification. This belief is rooted in the fact
that the Supreme being/Creator of mankind authorized the first man, Adam to ascribe
names to all creations including Eve and animals.
This name borne by the child will be used throughout his/her stay on this earth both
formally and informally. In a formal environment/setting such as school or workplace the
child will be enrolled using the name, he/she was christened with. Evidently, after
completion of every stage of the education ladder such as J.H.S, S.H.S, and even at the
tertiary levels, the certificate awarded have the name of the bearer/graduands boldly
embossed on it.
on the other hand, names make it easier for one to be identified in his family/home and
even within the community. In a local Ahanta community such as Agona fie, a suburb of
Agona Nkwanta and Lower Dixcove respectively, a mere mentioning of the names “Egya
Amonoo” and Nana Warabei by any stranger will effectively enable him/her identify such
individuals in these respective localities.
2. AS A TRADITION
As people with firm grip on traditions, the rite of passage which forms core of the traditional
practices of the people is held in high esteem and seem inseparable from the lives of the
people. It is practiced by all and sundry so far as the man and the woman are legally and
socially regarded as marriage couple. In the land of Ahanta, relatives of both couple and the
entire society all become expectant of the rite and as a result psyche themselves towards
the occasion. The performance of this task earns the couple some great level of respect and
honour and the therefore makes their bond a very glorious one.
3. AS A SIGN OF ALLEGIANCE/RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE CHILDREN
Performance of this maiden rite of passage serves as a social contract between the father
and the child in terms of responsibility. The act of naming a child by the father naturally
compels the father to fulfil his fatherly role in the upbringing of the child. The traditions of
Ahanta does not only view the act as a temporal commitment but a life-time one; it
transcends beyond the ceremonial day. In the land of Ahanta, traditions and customs allow
for the removal of names provided by fathers who willfully turned a blind eye in the upkeep
of the child.
It also serves as the conduit through which external members of the family contribute their
quota in the day to day life of the child either materially or morally. Since children are
named after well respected and responsible relatives of the man’s family, these persons
express concern over the general well-being of the child christened after them. In the
formative stage of the child where elements of waywardness creep in, these elderly
relatives being deemed as mentors of these children wholeheartedly intervenes to restore
normalcy by way of offering advices thus shaping the morality of the child.
4. TO AVOID EXTINCTION OF NAMES
Names play a very significant role in the cultural life of the Ahanta; the act of naming goes
further to show one’s lineage, history and origin. It is believed strongly by the people of
Ahanta that christening babies after prominent/great forefathers serve as a means of
preserving such unique indigenous names for unborn generations. The people of Ahanta
also harbour the belief that the spirit of those departed souls would have a posthumous
effect in the life day to day life of the child by way of causing them to relive their remarkable
feats. This explains why the family or society at large can reprimand a child for living a
lifestyle which is contrary to the one he/she was named after.
5. AS A MEANS OF HONOURING OR SHOWING APPRECIATION TO BOTH THE DEAD AND
LIVING
In a traditional society where showing of gratitude is largely encouraged, naming is one of
the avenues through which a person reciprocates the love and support he once benefited
from a person. In the land of Ahanta, it is deemed very befitting for one to name his child after a
mentor, a relative, foster parent, pastor, superordinate at work work, friend and even a stranger
whose act of magnanimity/kindness had a very positive impact on him at a very crucial point in time
in his life. In this case, the one being named after could be deceased or living.