Above all, this book discusses the meanings of African Muslim names and relates them to the contexts in which they appear. A name conveys history, culture, heritage, language and a consciousness of self-image and pride. An Islamic name may in certain contexts also signify an ideological, social and political stand. In short, our names convey our existences and our images of ourselves.
Personal names provide an important component of African cultural identities.
They reach across ethnic, geographical and national boundaries and extend identity from the African continent to the Pan-African Diaspora. Names, like language itself, provided their bearers with a sense of oneness in spite of ethnic differences. They bestow social and economic openness and invite participation. The first thing an African wants to know when he or she meets you is your name.