Comparative Study of Divine Names Across African Languages & Cultures

ANS 2025, February 22, 2025 A Comparative Study of Divine Names Across African Languages & Cultures by: Dr. Michel Nguessan (Governors State University, IL, USA) Dr. Michael Akinpelu (University of Regina, SK, Canada) Dr. Hasiyatu Abubakari (University of Ghana Accra, Ghana) This study conducts a comparative analysis of divine names across various African languages and cultures, aiming to uncover the linguistic and cultural nuances that shape the conceptualization of deities. By examining a diverse range of African societies, we explore how different communities name and attribute characteristics to their gods and spirits. The research employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating linguistic analysis, cultural anthropology, and religious studies. Our findings reveal both unique and shared elements in the naming conventions and attributes of deities, highlighting the rich tapestry of African spiritual traditions. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the interplay between language, culture, and religion in the African context, offering insights into the broader field of comparative mythology and religious studies. The first part of the paper discusses the concept of divine names. The second part of the paper presents divine names of selected languages and cultures. The last part of the paper discusses similarities and differences across African languages and cultures. Biographies: Dr. Michel Nguessan is an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science at Governors State University, in Illinois. He has academic background and research interest in linguistics/onomastics, software engineering and computer science, library and information science and port/maritime management. He graduated from universities in Côte-d’Ivoire, the USA and Canada. Dr. Michael Akinpelu is an Associate Professor of Sociolinguistics at the University of Regina, in Saskatchewan, Canada. His research interests include applied linguistics, language planning and policy in multilingual contexts, vitality of minority languages, and immigration. Dr. Hasiyatu Abubakari is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Accra. Her research interests span areas including grammars of minority Mabia languages of Ghana, Syntax, Information Structure, Sociolinguistics, Onomastics, Popular culture and Folktales.