Linguistic Archaeology: Exploring The Benin

Exploring the Benin we can begin with personal names...

Male Benin Names
1. Amadi
2. Azagba
3. Ehioze
4. Enobakhare
5. Ewansiha
6. Imarogbe
7. Nosakhere
8. Obaseki
9. Ode
10. Omolara
11. Omorede
12. Omoruyi
13. Osagboro
14. Osahar
15. Osakwe
16. Osayaba
17. Osaze

Popularity of use
A      %      E       %       I        %       O       %       U        %
13    76%  10    58%   6      35%   14     82%    1        5%

B      %      C       %       D        %       F       %       G        %
6     35%   0       0%    3       17%    0       0%      3     17%

H      %      J       %       K        %       L       %       M        %
5     29%   0      0%     4      23%    1      5%       4       23%

N      %      P       %       Q        %       R       %       S        %
2     11%   0      0%       0       0%      7     41%     8        47%

T      %      V       %       W        %       X       %       Y        %
0     0%    0        0%     2       11%    0        0%     2      11%

Z         %
3          17%


Popularity of Use
82% O:
76% A, O:
58% E, A, O:
47% S, E, A, O: (Osa- prefix)
41% R, S, E, A, O:
35% B, I, R, S, E, A, O:
29% H, B, I, R, S, E, A, O: (-har/-here/-hare suffix), Osahar,
23% K, M, H, B, I, R, S, E, A, O: Obaseki,
17% Z, G, D, K, M, H, B, I, R, S, E, A, O: Omorede, Ode, Amadi,
         Osagboro, Imarogbe, Azagba, Osaze, Ehioze,
11% Y, W, N, Z, G, D, K, M, H, B, I, R, S, E, A, O: Osayaba, Osakwe,
         Nosakhere, Ewansiha, Enobakhare,
5% U, L, Y, W, N, Z, G, D, K, M, H, B, I, R, S, E, A, O: Omoruyi,
        Omolara,
0% T, V, X, Q, P, J, F, C

Conclusion: At the point where the alphabet is in use by 29% of the Benin group Osahar represents the oldest Male Benin name in the Benin linguistic development timeline, followed by Obaseki at 23%.
The Benin male cultural growth peak occurs at 17% dropping slowly through 11% down to 5% of the alphabet using populace.


Female Benin Names
1. Edenausegboye
2. Ekaghogho
3. Enomwoyi
4. Ikuseghan
5. Irawagbon
6. Isoke
7. Izegbe
8. Nourbese
9. Ode
10. Omolara
11. Omorenoniwara
12. Omorose
13. Omosede
14. Omosupe
15. Osayioniwabo
16. Oseye
17. Urbi

Popularity of use
A      %      E       %       I        %       O       %       U        %
7     41%   13   76%    8      47%   14     82%    4       23%

B      %      C       %       D        %       F       %       G        %
5     29%   0      0%     3      17%     0      0%      5        29%

H      %      J       %       K        %       L       %       M        %
2     11%   0      0%      3      17%     1       5%     6        35%

N      %      P       %       Q        %       R       %       S        %
7     41%   1      5%      0       0%      6       35%   9        52%

T      %      V       %       W        %       X       %       Y        %
0      0%    0       0%     4       23%     0        0%     4      23%

Z         %
1         5%


Popularity of Use
82% O:
76% E, O:
52% S, E, O:
47% I, S, E, O:
41% A, N, I, S, E, O: (Osa- prefix)
35% R, M, A, N, I, S, E, O: Omorose,
29% B, G, R, M, A, N, I, S, E, O:
23% W, Y, U, B, G, R, M, A, N, I, S, E, O: Urbi, Oseye, Osayioniwabo,
         Omorenoniwara, Nourbese, Irawagbon, Enomwoyi,
17% D, K, W, Y, U, B, G, R, M, A, N, I, S, E, O: Omosede, Ode, Isoke,
         Edenausegboye,
11% H, D, K, W, Y, U, B, G, R, M, A, N, I, S, E, O: Ikuseghan,
         Ekaghogho,
5% P, L, Z, H, D, K, W, Y, U, B, G, R, M, A, N, I, S, E, O: Omosupe,
       Omolara, Izegbe,
0% T, V, X, Q, J, F, C


Conclusion: Earliest female name Using protoBenin Alphabet in use by 35% of population is Omorose. There is a Cultural growth Spike at 23% language use dropping slowly to 17%. This seems earlier than the growth spike present in male names though it might represent a higher linguistic literacy in female conversation circles if it occurs at the same time as the male cultural surge. It drops off at 11% before beginning a second rise at 5% population use.


Benin Family Names

1. Ahomadegebe
2. Apithy
3. Kerekou
4. Maga
5. Soglo
6. Zinsou

Popularity of use
A      %      E       %       I        %       O       %       U        %
3     50%   2      33%    2      33%    4       66%    2       33%

B      %      C       %       D        %       F       %       G        %
1     16%   0      0%      1      16%     0      0%      3        50%

H      %      J       %       K        %       L       %       M        %
2     33%   0      0%      1      16%     1       16%    2        33%

N      %      P       %       Q        %       R       %       S        %
1     16%   1      16%     0       0%      1       16%   2        33%

T      %      V       %       W        %       X       %       Y        %
1      16%  0       0%     0         0%     0        0%     1      16%

Z         %
1         16%

Popularity of use
66% O:
50% A, G, O:
33% E, I, U, H, M, S, A, G, O: (Osa- prefix), Maga,
16% B, D, K, L, T, Y, Z, E, I, U, H, M, S, A, G, O: Zinsou, Soglo, Kerekou, Apithy, Ahomadegebe,
0% C, F, J, Q, V, W, X

Conclusions: Maga are the oldest Benin family name at 33% use of alphabet. 16% represents the cultural surge of the Benin.


As Maga is the oldest Benin family name, were they called the Maga people before becoming the Benin? Examining the male and female names lists Maga appears in the Male cultural growth peak but predates all but one female name occuring before the female growth peak. So if the cultural surges are happening at the same time, the Female dominated Maga family (a matriarchal group?) predates the other families and we get a cultural growth spike with females using higher alphabet literacy than males by the end of all cultural development because Women know the P phonetic, and men dont use it in their names making it exclusivly female amongst the Benin. This is the reverse of Aboriginal Australia where P is a Male name only phonetic. The Apithy family is likely responsible for the introduction of the P phonetic in the female name Omosupe.