The anthroponym 'nhamo'

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Periodical article

Title:	The anthroponym 'nhamo'
Author:	Makondo, Livingstone
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Language Matters: Studies in the Languages of Africa (ISSN 1022-8195)
Volume:	42
Issue:	1
Pages:	126-141
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Zimbabwe
Subjects:	personal names Shona
Abstract:	Since time immemorial, diverse Shona personal names have been popularized in Zimbabwe, and yet, with the passage of time, they have disappeared almost into oblivion. Against this background, this article explores the perennial use of anthroponyms of the /-nhamo-/ (suffering) stem amongst the Shona. The name is examined within the marked diverse political, economic, religious and social metamorphoses Zimbabwe has gone through since the 16th century, when European explorers and missionaries set foot in the country. This article explores the reasons behind the preference for first names of the /-nhamo-/ (suffering) stem, such as Chenhamo, Nhamodzenyika, and Muzanenhamo. Data were gathered from 500 interview respondents above 15 years of age, and from a song 'Nhamu yangu' (My suffering) by Thomas Mapfumo and Blacks Unlimited (1998). According to L. Makondo (2009) the anthroponym-pragma-semio-semantic decompositional theory provides analytical tools for this predominantly transdisciplinary qualitative discussion. Therefore, the pragmatic political efficacy of the use of personal names is foregrounded. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract]