What’s in a book of names?

In "The African Book of Names," a new work compiled by Askhari Hodari, there are more than 5,000 names deriving from 37 nations and more than 70 ethno-linguistic groups. One thing that sets it apart from other name books is that it makes clear that it's not just for babies; it notes that adults have taken African names later in life. "New names can represent new stages of development," Hodari writes. " Sojourner Truth, Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and El Hajj Malik El Shabazz ( Malcolm X) all took on new names as adults."

By Carolyn Kellogg