Sociocultural underpinnings of toponyms in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

This article focuses on toponyms with particular reference to the names of towns and villages in Ǹgùrú, a member of the quadripartite towns that make up MkpunánO Ǹsukā, Ìdèkè, the host community of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The primary objective of this study is to identify the factors that determine the names given to places in Ǹsukā. The paper argues that Nsuka-Igbo toponyms are not arbitrarily awarded. Corpus was gathered through oral interview with the help of two research assistants that are indigenes of Ǹgùrú. The paper finds that Nsuka-Igbo toponyms are given in consideration of certain socio-cultural factors, including geographical landscape, ancestral/genealogical relationships, location of the place, past events and experiences. It was also observed that the Nsuka-Igbo have high regard for ancestry and reverence for the Supreme Being in the naming of places.