The Naming Ceremony

I watched as the ceiling fan was rotating slowly, as slow as the low voltage could carry it. For the past two days now, NEPA has been frustrating us with low voltage. I sighed and turned to my side, staring blankly at my TV, wishing that a miracle could happen, and it would turn on even with the low voltage so that I could watch my shows and at least kill my boredom.

It was Saturday but not like any other Saturday. It was a boring Saturday and the first Saturday I spent at home ever since I moved to this new neighbourhood.

I wished for the mundane things to keep myself occupied but my house had nothing entertaining that could keep me occupied at that moment.

Slowly, I was drifting off to sleep when a loud noise jolted me up from sleep. So unusual for my neighbourhood. Although it has been a few weeks since I moved in, I could tell it was a very quiet neighbourhood. One of the reasons I love it.

My curiosity above normal, I got up and peeked through the window. Colourful decorations and children were running around happily. Canopies filled with old men and women. There was a whole lot of merriment going on.

“What’s going on?” I whispered to myself, squinting my eyes to see if I could notice a familiar face.

With so much curiosity in me, I slipped my legs into my slippers and walked outside. The sun was hot, and the air was thick with the aroma of freshly cooked party Jellof. My stomach began to growl.

Just at the gate that led into my compound, I met Mama Chinedu walking in.

"Good evening ma. What's happening?" I asked, feeling lost.

"My dear, it's one of our neighbours. She's naming her child today. Bia come help me," Mama Chinedu replied, dragging me by my arms.

But I wasn't satisfied with the answer, "Who names their child with a loud party like this?" I asked, following her diligently.

"Are you new to this country? Haven't you heard of naming ceremonies before?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to me.

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. “I have heard of naming a child but not with a ceremony,” I replied.

"Well you do now. And I hope you stay around to learn more about it". She said, opening a door that led to a room filled with coolers of rice, drinks and table water.

I nodded. I didn't want to push further. I was already embarrassed by not knowing that people held parties to name their kids in my country. I thought it was just a ritual parents do casually at the hospital once they have their kids in their hands.

"Sorry, my dear. I'll stress you a bit. You're going to help me serve food to guests" Mama Chinedu pleaded, cutting me off my thoughts and winking at me.

I looked around from the coolers to the drinks and then the room, which I now discovered to be a store room. It was tiny and had only one tiny window in it.

"Okay," I smiled back. On a normal day, I wouldn't have agreed to such. But since I was bored staying in my room, helping them serve guests would be a good escape for me.

I stood there still thinking about what she had said and also watching her as she scooped food into different plates placed in a big tray and placing it carefully on a wooden table there. When she was done dishing the food, she handed it over to me. But as I tried to take it from her, she paused and looked me in the eye. Then she placed the food tray back on the table.

"Come and sit down", she said, dragging me again by my arms. "Seems like you really don't know about the 'Igu Afa' Naming Ceremony" I watched as she pulled a tiny stool from underneath the table and motioned me to sit. Maybe she had read my puzzled face.

I kept a smile on my face, while gently placing my butt on the wooden stool. Then, I placed my arms on my cheek and listened attentively while looking at her straight to the face.

"Today," she started. "The parents get to name their newborn in a ceremony named 'Igu Afa'. It usually takes place within 7 to 12 days after the birth of the child. And since children are seen to be a blessing from the lord, there's a party for the naming ceremony, but due to the present economy of the land, parents don't do this often any more. Maybe that's why you've not heard of it being a party"

I nodded, at least she had helped to calm my inquisition.

"Now, every name given to the child must have a meaning or tell a story or even honour an ancestor. This is done so that when you say the name you are also saying a prayer for them. Like my son's name, Chinedum, which means God leads me."

At that point, I was already thinking about the different names of my friends I knew, and I realised it was true. Every time we say their name, somehow, we're saying a silent prayer for them.

"I've never thought of it this way", I replied, nodding my head like a lizard.

She smiled. "We learn every day, don't we?" She asked standing up.

I nodded again "Is it also the same way with other tribes?" I asked my curiosity at its highest now.

"I don't know of other tribes. I just told you of our tribe, the Igbo tribe" Then she picked up the food tray again. "Now, don't keep our guests waiting"

I stood up and took the tray from her, and then I headed out of the room. A day that had started as a boring one has finally turned into me having a lesson about my roots and a side gig as an ịgụ afa usher.

I looked at the tray in my hands and smiled.

Glossary
'Igu Afa' Naming Ceremony
Bia come

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