Islamic/Arabic names and their implications for cultural identity in Ghana

Abstract

This paper examines the implications of Islamic-naming and cultural identity from a multi-cultural perspective, using some
Ghanaian experiences. This exploration is rooted in the contemporary social and religious transformation in the Ghanaian,
particularly, Muslim societies. The activities of Muslim revivalists, who have sought to Islamise African societies at the expense of the indigenous culture and heritage, question the future of the African traditional worldview and heritage. More so, the rapid spread of Western education is accelerating the pace of globalisation, leading to further Westernisation of Muslim societies. Undoubtedly, the youth of today see themselves, more than ever before, as part of a new world order that is at variance with their indigenous traditions and values. This study explores how a Muslim could maintain an Islamic identity without an Arabic name, the cultural value of a name, and the role of cultural diversity with respect to names in Islam. Analysis of scriptural texts such as the Qur’an, Hadith, historical sources, and oral interviews revealed that the philosophy and process of naming new-born children in Ghanaian, particularly, Akan settings are not different from Islamic processes and motives of naming. The study also argues that the supposed “Islamic” names are more of Arabised racial identities which predate the advent of Islam. Thus, we conclude that, technically, “Islamic” names do not necessarily need to be in Arabic, but even when they do, they may still portray deep indigenous philosophical and religious beliefs.