ANTIDOTE AND SUCCOR POTENCY OF BININ AND ESAN NAMES AS CULTURAL MEANS OF MANAGING MORALE IN SOCIETY

Abstract

This study examines savaging morale issues through indigenous names which, takes conscious effort, and how this has helped Africans, particularly Benin and Esan people to conquer their environment and enhance relationships and as well douse Westcott’s (1995) assertion on Benin names. Consequently, the need to save indigenous identity, understand these names, their meanings and their succor potency so as to further conquer and enhance relationships becomes necessary, especially for foreigners who may wish to domesticate and for indigenes to improve upon at such time that western civilization is sweeping away African cultural values. The choice of Binin and Esan names was informed by the cultural intra-relationship of both ethnic groups. In addition, the indigenous names borne by members of these ethnic groups are philosophical and connotatious, this drives the succor potency that make such names effectual and inform the antidote and succor potency which build morale in African society. Hence, this paper examines the primary essence of names, which is identity, meaning of names and situations where their antidote and succor potencies are relevant and active. It further examines the history and classes of names and the experiences behind some particular names of both ethnic groups. It further extricates how antidote and succor potency are enjoyed by the bearer and caller, and how they help in the management of morality through hearing and interpretation. It recommended that indigenous Binin and Esan names should be borne by Binin and Esan sons and daughters in as much as they retain their antidote and succor potency. This will help ethnic identification through individual names and at the same time do its antidote and succor relief, which aids morale management and contributes to positive construction in society. It concluded that for foreign names not to take over our indigenous names and throw us into ethnic identity confusion and endanger our indigenous name value, we must encourage the bearing of our indigenous names.