Enforced Social Relations Due to a Person’s Name in Burundi
The naming practices of the Burundi people contribute to the construction and to the understanding of the social relations which bind people together and with their surroundings. The names of Burundians reflect the issues at stake in their society. Naming someone implies a negotiation involving three persons: the one who names, the one to be named and the one to which is dedicated the message contained in the name chosen. The act of name-giving contributes to build the person’s identity as well as the Burundian social links. A person’s name can also be invested with functions and significance which gives an insight of the Burundian concept of man and of the world.