THE IGBO PRAISE NAMES AND SONGS: A BRIEF SURVEY

Abstract

This paper studies praise names and songs given to or rendered to people for their achievements. Praise is the expression of approval of one’s achievements or qualities. Many mediums could be used in achieving this. One of which is name praise, eulogic or panegyric song could be directed to someone or something in order to herald his or its achievements or good qualities. More so, the purpose of this praise is to eulogise the characters and the achievements of chiefs and kings in their various courts and palaces with the aim of receiving their patronage (Finnegan, 1970). The death of culture on some Igbo mythology that have not been investigated prompts this study. The paper therefore, seeks to investigate the songs rendered to an achiever and sub-class names referred in Igbo as “aha otito†(praise names), which are additional names taken by or given to individuals, either in backing up the traditional titles they have taken or in testifying to their competence in various vocations such as hunting, herbal healing, artistic productions, etc. The study reveals that there is slight difference between “aha otito†(praise name) as well as “aha echichi†(title name) respectively. The study concludes by appealing to researchers to embark on urgent study of minority of Igbo culture as many of them are gradually going into extinction.