Culture is dynamic, no two cultures are the same, although there may be some. similarities. Also no culture is more unique than the other, every culture should be valued by it's people and from outside it.
I come from the Eastern part of Nigeria, Abia State to be precise and in my community, one of our cultural practices is wife naming ceremony. When a woman is married into a family, a ceremony is held where she will be given a name which she will be known with.
This ceremony is an all women's affair except for when the husband or the father in-law will be called to present the wife to the women. This cultural practice is such that the woman will not be recognized or even accepted into the women's meeting until she is given a name, that is to say, it is a ceremony for the official presentation, recognition and induction of the woman into the women's meeting of that kindred.
This practice has been from time immemorial and the people love it.
I had the opportunity of witnessing that of my sister in-law and it was such an exciting event. The women came in their numbers with their musical instruments.
They sang, danced and made merry, there was no type of folk song I didn't hear that day. Of course there were lots of food and drinks, soft and strong 😂.
The ceremony usually starts in the evening and extends into the night.
After all women had gathered, my mom welcomed them by presenting kola, usual kolanut, garden eggs and bitterkola. Prayers will be said, the kola shared followed by the chairlady addressing the women on the reason they were there, after that they performed the first dance.
After the first dance, attendance was taken to know those who weren't present, then they danced again and everyone took turns in singing, refusing to do so attracts a fine.
The second dance done, it was time to present my sister in law to the women and this was done by dad, mom. and her husband.
After that, she was asked series of questions by the women but the most important one is if she really accepts to be named, to which she agreed and everyone clapped
With her acceptance the naming kicked off. Since it was a women's affair, mom was the one to give her the name, and she named her Ezihe meaning good thing. Mom actually has a thing with this Ezi name because all the names of her daughters in law starts with Ezi, maybe because hers is Ezinwanyi.
Mom doing the naming
After mom had pronounced the name, the chairlady then welcomed her and made a declaration that she will be known and addressed by that name in the kindred and community. After that all the women now came to welcome her one after the other while addressing her with the name.
That done, the bye law of the women's meeting was read to her to which she promised to keep. Also some of the oldest married women amongst them have her words of advice on how to be a good wife and take care of her family.
The husband was then called in and prayers said for them followed by couple dance.
The couple
After that came food, drinks and other eatables followed by dance, jokes, and more dance till everyone got tired and dispersed.
It was indeed a fun filled ceremony and it made me appreciate our culture the more.
Do your culture perform this wife naming ceremony? Please do let me know.
Thank you for reading.
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