Naming Ceremony in Hausa Land

(Last Updated On: December 24, 2016)

This post has been long awaited. First, checkout the naming ceremonies of Edo, Yoruba and Igbo.

The naming ceremony in Hausa is held 7 days after the birth of a child. According to NigerianWiki, in traditional Hausa/Fulani culture as soon as a wife is pregnant and then gives birth, preparations of boiling water and firewood used for cooking commences for the daily bath of the wife.

The father gets kolanuts he’ll offer to his guests. Also, an animal is provided for sacrifice on the D-day. On the 3^rd day after the child is born, the kauri (a food) is prepared and distributed to the relatives and friends signaling the birth of the child. On the 6^th day after delivery, notices are sent out to the friends and well-wishers inviting them to the naming ceremony proper.

On the D-day, the men stay outside the house while the women stay inside the house and await the coming of the Imam. When the Imam comes, he slaughters the sacrificial animal that the father had earlier provided. After the sacrifice, the Imam asks everyone to pray to Mohammed. After that, he then prays in Arabic and Hausa and blesses the Child.

After the prayers, gifts are presented to the Imam by the father of the child.

A barber is called to shave off the child’s hair and also give the child any desired tribal marks.

The names for the child are chosen from the Koran by the father with or without the consent of his wife. Girls are often named after historical figures such as Amina or Aishatu whilst names for males are named after Mohammed’s companions or after the 25 prophets in the Koran.

There you have it… The naming ceremony in Hausa land.