Stages in Life: Birth, Naming Ceremony and today’s modernity
The publication titled “Stages in Life: Birth, Naming Ceremony and today’s modernity ” is based on one of Ghana’s old cultural studies textbooks. The post aims at sharing with the current generation some of the useful knowledge which cannot be found in current textbooks in our schools.
In any traditional society in Ghana, the growth of humans is marked by stages. These are the stages of -Birth, Puberty, Marriage, Death, and Life after death. These stages are termed Life Cycle.
After birth, the baby grows through the puberty stage into a young adult and then adulthood. The adult then marries and brings forth children, grows old, and dies. After death, he or she moves into the next world.
Stages in Life: Birth, Naming Ceremony and today’s modernity
Let us look at the first stage and the associated rites per the various cultures in Ghana.
In most Ghanaian communities, birth is marked by a simple ceremony called “outdooring” and or “Naming” It is called “outdooring” because, on that day, the baby who until then has been kept out of public view is brought out. It is called a naming ceremony because it is on this day that the child is given an identity.
The Ga call this ceremony Kpodziemor, the Akan call it Abadinto or Dzinto, the Dagomba people call it Sunna and the Ewes call it Vihehedego.
The Outdooring or Naming ceremony is a social event to which friends and family members are invited. There are many explanations for keeping the baby out of public view before the ceremony.
Some people believe that the baby faces many dangers soon after birth. If s/he is able to survive these dangers, he or she is then given a name. This is why the baby is seen as a stranger until the day of the naming ceremony.
Others believe that the baby is not a human being for the first seven days after birth. Tradition and customs in many ethnic groups require that the baby is “outdoored” on the eighth day after birth.
In the northern part of Ghana, the naming ceremony of a child takes place on the third day if the baby is a boy or on the fourth day if it is a girl. The naming ceremony as custom demands should be held early in the morning in the house of the father.
Today, a lot has changed and modernity and religions such as Islam and Christianity have had an effect on the customs.
Christians now perform the naming ceremony at church premises instead of the home. Many families do not outdoor the newborn baby on the eighth day. Outdoor after one or two months. Others even carry out the ceremony during church services and celebrations can be accompanied by music and entertainment all day till the late hours of the night. A child and the mother may be hospitalized after the birth and the longer they are admitted to the health facility, the more likely the naming ceremony will delay or may not be organized any time soon.
Drinks such as palm wine, and Schnapps are no longer used or dropped in the mouth of babies. Instead, water and other sugary drinks are being used. In some instances, they are not used at all. One’s fath, religion and modernity can influence the decision and choices.
Today naming ceremonies have become marketing tools for families and the name of the ceremony is being challenged by new and modern terms such as baby blessing, baby dedication, and all manner of names.
