NAMING CEREMONY IN MAMBILLA CUSTOM & TRADITIONS

NAMING CEREMONY
IN MAMBILLA CUSTOM & TRADITIONS.

Comr NJIABON NDARUP

ln mambilla culture, the naming ceremony comes up almost immediately after the birth of the child. It is normally done on the10 market  day after the birth of the child.

When a child is born in mambilla custom & tradition, he or she is welcomed into the world  joyously  . In mambilla culture, as soon as the news of a safe delivery of a baby is broken in a community, the women, children family friends around will assemble, These women will then go into the house and rub (a white powder) on their necks as a mark of purity of heart, goodwill and welcome for the new child.

IT IS A TRADITION THAT THE MIDWIFE WILL BE THE ONE TO BREAK THE NEWS TO THE FATHER WHETHER THE CHILD IS A MAN OR A WOMAN.

 After this, the family will then start making arrangements for the child’s naming ceremony, which is a very big or small depending on how the father prepare, .
In MAMBILLA culture, the naming ceremony of a child is often referred to as “one important event” and this marks the formal presentation of the child to his people, which comprises of his kinsmen, family, friends, well-wishers and the entire community at large.

This event is normally done to fulfill the social- religious obligations, that are believed to become activated when a child is born, as well as to thank God for the safe delivery of the child and to ask him to guide the child, as he embarks on a journey through the earth. In traditional MAMBILLA life, there is a lot in a name. The name is more than just a tag; it’s more of an identity. An mambilla name always bears a message, a meaning i.e. like  
👉which (changko)simply means ( thiers God ).

Now coming to the naming ceremony proper, in MAMBILLA land, the paternal grand-parents officiate MAMBILLA naming ceremonies. The child is brought out by the paternal grandmother, who hands him/her to the child’s father. The ceremony then begins with the usual breaking of kola-nuts and prayer, which involves the pouring of wine/water libation to the gods. After this, the child is then given a name by the father. In some communities in mambilla land, a  sign is place within the compound to represent the life and survival of the child to be remember. The ceremony is then ended with the presentation of gifts to the child.

In MAMBILLA culture , there is great significances in a name. A name is more than just an appellation or a stamp of identity, our names bear a message, a meaning, a story, an observation, a history, life experience.

One can easily predict what transpired prior to your birth by merely hearing your name. Example:
NJIABON( there thing )
👉 BAH MIAH (owner of the land)
👉CHANGKO (There's  God)
👉WUNG VIAH(the world is bad)
Etc
Hearing these names with its meaning, one can assumed that,  the parents of the bearers might have had some traumatic experience prior to their birth, and were consoled through their birth.

One can also predict your birthday, through your name,

Name can also show your position in the family, eg: Bian'joh mun sihjoh (first born son)
Mun vih bu' joh(first born daughter)

The important and significances of names in MAMBILLA  culture can't be overemphasized. In MAMBILLA land, name defined who you are.

Tell us your Mambilla name, we will tell you the meaning
MAMBILLA TRADITION MOST NOT DIE