Baby Naming Ceremony

On Saturday Feb 6^th we were invited to a Baby Naming Ceremony. When I first heard the news I allowed my imagination to run wild. I envisioned a guy dressed in an all white traditional garment holding a baby up to the sky saying a prayer in his native tongue. All the while the women would be singing the song from the Color Purple when it kept switching between the scenes where Celia is getting ready to shave/cut Mr. and Nettie and the children were at a ceremony in Africa.

We were told to arrive at 2:00pm. When we arrived it seemed as though not much was happening. There were a few people sitting on the lawn but nothing more so we decided to run a few errands. When we returned not much had changed. We were taken inside and introduced to everyone then we patiently waited. While we were waiting we made observation on how everyone was acting so leisurely. People were walking around, talking, sitting down, and cooking, just kinda chillin. So we had the discussion on how “CP time” had nothing on this; I mean nothing. The other thing was no one seemed to care. Everyone was perfectly content that two hours later the ceremony still hadn’t started. After the mom changed into outfit number three we begin to make inquiries, how long does the program last? About what time will it start? What exactly takes place at the ceremony?

Much to my dismay there is no “Color Purplish” ceremony taking place (sigh).  A baby naming ceremony lasts for one day. In the morning the parents bring the child out, someone prays for them, and then everyone has breakfast. A few hours later lunch is served then hours later everyone eats dinner. There is also music and dancing. People come all throughout the day some come and go while others stay all day.

While I was somewhat disappointed with my findings, sitting around was rather comforting. One, the actual ceremony was very similar to a baby dedication in the states. Two, the program had an outdoor BBQ feel (minus the grill). The people were all congregated in different groups of men in one area, women over here, women over there, the younger men on one side, the younger women on the other, and children running around everywhere.   

The African elements of the program were, everyone was dressed in traditional African attire and the family finances the whole shindig which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and entertainment for all parties involved. We were there during lunch so when it was time to eat they called us inside to a back room. They brought two large bowls of an African cuisine, a bowl of water, and some spoons.  As we walked back outside and I saw everyone else eating I realized they took us to the back so we would be comfortable. Though I was completely ready to eat a tradition African meal, outdoors, communally, with my hands, I was very grateful for the opportunity to eat in the back with a spoon.