SOCIO-CULTURAL SEMIOTIC REPRESENTATION OF ITEMS USED IN NAMING CEREMONY AMONG THE EDO PEOPLE

ABSTRACT

This research effort focuses on the items used in Edo naming ceremony and their significance. The word ‘ Edo’ con-notes two distinct concepts. One represents the people while the other stands for the language spoken by these people who live and dwell in Edo and have common socio-cultural, political and cultural heritage. The Edos as a people are the Binis who live and dwell in Oredo, Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, OviaSouth East and Ovia North East Local Government Areas of the state.

This work aims at describing the items used in Edo naming ceremony and their significance among the Edo natives. The data used for this study were mainly from primary source; oral interviews with Edo men and women who were advanced in Edo customs.

The major findings were; the non- availability of the items used during the naming in Edo can be a source of disturbance to the progress and well-being of the child and the items used by each family largely depends on the family linage or traditional beliefs of such person.