Survival by Loss of Identity:The Power of Names among Burundian Refugees in Tanzania
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: We investigate Burundian refugee names in Tanzania. The first name, in Kirundi (language of Burundi), \nreflects a person’s future or the parents’ life circumstances. Later, Burundians are given a French Christian \nname. The original name becomes the surname. Both names identify one as Burundian, supporting the idea \nthat names are keys to identity maintenance (Alia 2007). We classify the 1972 Burundian refugees into two \ncategories. Camp refugees stay inside the camps. Returning to Burundi defines their lives. Keeping their \nBurundian names allows visibility and unity, to remain a people (Malkki 1995). Meanwhile, town refugees \nmanage to leave the camps, becoming invisible within Tanzanian society. For them, changing one’s name \neases challenges/barriers, while disconnecting one from his/her past. It is common to change the Christian \nname to a Muslim name, leaving the surname. If the surname is too noticeable, the individual may find a \nBurundian name that passes for a Tanzanian name. This is a break with the individual’s identity as the \nname presented by the parents must be abandoned. We conclude that if there is a need to change the name, \nthe Christian name is given up first, then the surname, since the latter defines the individual as truly \nBurundian.
Source: YorkSpace (York University)
Authors: Karen A. Duchaj, Jeanine Ntihirageza
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6519483