The practice of giving a child an African name has become very popular among persons of African descent. This is mainly as a result of the re-awakening of their ‘black consciousness’. Surprisingly, it is not only newborn who are being given African names, but several adults are also opting to change their European-derived names to more symbolic African ones.
Choosing a child’s name is a very important matter in Africa. In African societies, a person’s name is an essential component of his/her spiritual anatomy. It is believed that a child’s name can determine his/her success in life. Therefore, in recognition of its important function, a special ceremony is usually held shortly after the birth of an infant for the purpose of naming him/her.
In many African societies, the naming ceremony is held on the eighth day after an infant’s birth. The Yoruba believe that a child who is not named within seven to nine days after its birth will not outlive its parent of the same sex. For the Akan, the importance of having the naming ceremony on the same day of the week as the child’s birth date is to ensure that the spirit of the individual will be aligned with the Divine qualities of the God who governs that particular day of the week. The kra den or soul name is determined by the day of the week on which the child is born. It is also the father’s responsibility to name the child. However, both parents sometimes take the responsibility to do so.
The day’s activities at a naming ceremony vary from one ethnic group. However, the underlying purpose tends to be the same for all. The naming ceremony is essentially a rite of passage and initiation. Naming ceremonies begin in the early morning, usually at the birth home. Father, mother and baby dress in white and await the arrival of the Elders, who are the officiants of the ceremony, as well as family and friends. The Elders invoke the Gods to grant the child and its parents, good health, long life and prosperity. A part of the ceremony involves the infant being given water and some form of strong drink, like rum, to taste. This is done so that he/she will be able to differentiate from an early age, that which is good from that which is bad. Towards the end of the ceremony, the baby’s name is announced to the gathering after which he/she is passed around to everyone present. The guests then present gifts to the baby.
After the formal ceremony, the festivities begin. A feast is provided for the guests and the remainder of the day is filled with music, singing and dancing. Sometimes the festivities continue to well into the next morning.
