Publish date: 25 October 2022
Nigeria is the most populous country on the African continent, full of rich culture and heritage. It comprises 3 major ethnic groups, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo with over 250 other ethnic groups.
I belong to the Yoruba group where it is customary to celebrate the arrival of a baby with pomp and pageantry including singing, drumming, dancing and traditional food. The naming ceremony usually takes place 7 days after the birth of the child and is accompanied by food items that have symbolic significance in the child’s life.
Honey provides sweetness, bitter kola for longevity and whole peppercorns represent abundance in life, to mention a few.
The names given to the child are usually derived from the family’s circumstances at time of the birth. My middle name is typically given to a child born abroad and later brought back home. I miss attending these ceremonies!
My culture is a huge part of who I am. For me, understanding each other's cultures and our intersectional identities is key to building meaningful connections.