A naming ceremony is a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of a new born baby into a family and a wider community. Many families choose to hold naming ceremonies to celebrate the arrival of their child, and among the ethnic group the Dagombas have one of the beautiful naming ceremonies in Ghana which one must witness.
The people of Dagomba are from the Northern Region of Ghana and their capital is Yendi where their Paramount Chief lives. They call their naming ceremony Zugu pinibu.
When a woman gives birth in a traditional Dagomba home, the child is given a name a week after he or she is born.
Before the naming ceremony is done the father of the child goes to a soothsayer together with the elders of the family with suggested names for consultation to get the right name for the child. (A soothsayer is a person who can foretell the future or a fortune teller). Local names which may be given to a child include; Wumpini which means God’s gift, Suglo which means Patience, Wuni nmi which means Only God knows, among others.
On the day of the ceremony the hair of the new born baby is shaved completely. This signifies that the baby is being purified into a new world.
The father of the child with the help of the elders of the household make the name of the child known to the public. After the name is being announced to the public, they slaughter a sheep to purify the day and seek for blessings onto the new name and the new member of the family.
After this is done both families come together to make merry.
Written by Stephen Ansong Sampong
DCS 20745
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