Abstract
M.A.
The practices relating to name giving for children among the Ndebele people are
investigated in this study. Since it is a well-known fact that personal names in
the case of the Bantu speaking people are generally social-culturally relevant the
initial hypothesis namely that there would be a significant increase in the number
of politically inspired names after the political events commencing with the
release of Nelson Mandela in 1994 was investigated. For the purpose of
establishing this hypothesis the focus was on families Who have both very young
and older children as far as the field research is concerned. However, it
transpired that the expected increase in the number of politically inspired names
did not occur.
This research is an attempt to indicate how naming among the Ndebele speaking
people is determined and influenced by socio-political and cultural factors.
Aspects of the naming of children that are investigated in this study and
accounted for are amongst others, who is responsible for the decision concerning
a particular name?; which aspects give rise to the decision concerning a
particular name; similarities and differences between name-giving with the
Ndebele people and other ethic groups.
Chapter 1 constitutes the theoretical basis for this investigation. The rationale,
theoretical framework and methodology is discussed in this chapter.
In chapter 2 name-giving in general is discussed. After an overview of the
literature the attention is drawn to name-giving in Ghana and Tanzania,
thereafter the focus is on name-giving among the Nguni and Sotho groups.
Changes in name-giving practices during the period 1960 to 1970 as opposed to
the period 1980 to 1999 is also highlighted. In chapter 3 the focus is on name-giving among the Ndebele in the urban areas
as opposed to the rural areas. Similarities and differences between the namegiving
practices in these two areas are highlighted.
In chapter 4 the data offered in chapter 3 is analysed.
Chapter 5 is the concluding chapter.