IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURAL STUDIES (RJHCS )

E-ISSN 2579-0528
P-ISSN 2695-2467
VOL. 11 NO. 4 2025
DOI: 10.56201/rjhcs.v11.no4.2025.pg1.8

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The Role of Akosejaiye in Yoruba Naming Ceremonies and Early Childhood Ritual

Olatunji David OSINUGA Seunfunmi ABILAWON, PhD

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Abstract

This study examines the role of Akosejaiye—a Yoruba practice of deliberate name selection— in shaping identity, spirituality, and cultural continuity within naming ceremonies (Ìkóm?jáde) and early childhood rituals. Rooted in Yoruba ontology, Akosejaiye reflects the belief that names are vessels of destiny (Ori), intricately tied to ancestral legacies, birth circumstances, and divination outcomes. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research synthesizes ethnographic accounts, historical texts, and oral traditions to analyze Akosejaiye’s socio- cultural and spiritual dimensions. Key findings reveal its tripartite function: (1) identity formation through names like Babátúndé (“father returns”), signifying ancestral reincarnation; (2) spiritual safeguarding via names invoking divine protection (e.g., Olúwatóyìn—“God is worthy of praise”); and (3) cultural transmission through rituals such as Ìdánáwò (first haircut), which reinforce communal values. However, urbanization, globalization, and religious shifts threaten its practice, with younger generations increasingly adopting Western names. Diaspora communities, nonetheless, demonstrate resilience by adapting Akosejaiye through digital platforms and hybrid ceremonies. The study underscores the urgency of preservation, proposing ten recommendations, including cultural education programs, digital archiving of oral histories, and policy advocacy. By bridging symbolic anthropology and African communalism, this research highlights Akosejaiye’s dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity, affirming its relevance in sustaining Yoruba heritage. The findings contribute to broader discourses on cultural preservation, onomastics, and identity in postcolonial contexts.

keywords:

Akosejaiye, Yoruba naming ceremonies, early childhood rituals, cultural preservation, onomastics

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References:

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