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The Past.
Eight Days After Birth.
27th December 1998.

Death wasn't kind and Olamide knew that. Everyone did. It plucked where it could, taking people who were far too young, far too good and even mothers who had newborns. The hooded vale of death had long stood over the world, constantly threatening. It did not make any distinction — not even with Olamide.

He had never been touched by death so near but this time, death took a part of him — a part he cherished most. He didn't know how he was going to live life without Nia even now that she had left a little one behind.

Olamide's world threatened to collapse but he made a promise on his wife's grave that he was going to be strong for their daughter and that was exactly what he planned on doing. As to how he would do it or even if he would be any good at it? No one knew. But one thing was for sure, life had to continue.

***

The cock-a-doodle-doo of the rooster thundered through the Amaechi household as the first sun illuminated the blue sky. It looked like a flame igniting the most perfect frame of blue. And with its presence, it was as if it was calling the entire household to rise and prepare for what day it was — the naming ceremony of Olamide's newborn.

It was the eighth day since the newborn fell from her mother's womb to the land of the living and as per the Abikialiian tradition, a newborn is named only on the eighth day after they were born.

They waited that long as a way to confirm that the child had come to stay on the land of the living and wouldn't be returning to the world of the ancestors. If by the eighth day the baby was still alive, they would then proceed to give him or her a name to validate their stay in the human world. Until that day, the child is regarded as a "stranger" and no importance is given to them because they wouldn't want to get attached to what wasn't theirs yet.

Nana, the oldest woman in the Amaechi household, was seen knocking on every door at the sound of the morning rooster. The day wasn't like any other day and every one was needed to put in their best effort to ensure the success of the ceremony. Everyone, especially the young lads of the household, needed to be awake and she had to make sure of that.

Relatives both near and afar had trouped the household the night before. And since it was Christmas Day, the entire family gathered to have their usual annual family gatherings before retiring to their beds. Way to kill two birds with a stone.

Nana was old but not the kind of old you pity with old bones and feeble limbs, but the kind who could still run a marathon given half a chance. At her age, she was expected to have one foot in the grave but she stood rather tall and strong. Her short grey hair had been neatly styled and she had wrapped around her upper body, a white cloth — a sign of victory.

Being the oldest woman of the Amaechi family, the onus fell on Nana to perform all the important rituals of the day. Nothing should go wrong.

After waking the entire household up, she gave instructions to everyone on what to do before she made her way to Olamide's room to make sure the newborn was given a proper ritual bath for the ceremony.

The naming ceremony for a new baby was one of the most important rites of passages in the life of the people of Kolontou. Kolontou was one of the west African countries known for its rich culture and traditions — from its rite of passage to its festivals to the numerous tribes in its tri-states, Silila, Nomé and Mibléwa. Abikiali being a major city in the Nomé state, they were a big name to mention when you talk about Kolontou's culture.

In the Abikialiian culture, the naming ceremony was used to announce the birth of a newborn, particularly and also to introduce the child to their extended family and the wider community and, above all, give the child a name.

***

"In the presence of our all-powerful,

all-knowing, and all present Creator,

I pour this libation...

I pour for our ancestors known in different cultures by different names..."

The voice of the chief linguist died behind the gathered family members as he walked farther pouring the libation. The ceremony began with an opening libation to invoke the spirit of the ancestors to witness the naming of the newborn and also to affirm that the family had claimed the baby since she had spent eight days on the land of the living.

After the libation was completed, Nana walked over to the middle of the compound where a small fire had been made. She called for the Sifudu leaves and began walking around the fire as she placed the leaves one after another into the fire which produced a thin cloud of smoke. The burning leaves gave off a pungent odour that was too irritating to the mouth, nose and eyes. The faces of those gathered gave this out but Nana seemed to not be bothered by it. After she had put more of the leaves into the fire, she walked over to Olamide who had been carrying the baby the entire time and picked the baby up before walking back to the somewhat blazing fire.

She held the toes of the baby together, her face down and legs up and she slowly moved around the burning fire. The ritual ensures that the child is never subjected to fright, timidness or shyness but rather, will grow up to be a powerful, stable adult — one that every society cherished.

"Now is the time to hear the baby's name," Nana announced as she beckoned Olamide to step forward from his seat. He smiled as he moved towards his grandmother. He bowed a little bit as he neared her. He stretched out his arms and received his baby in his abode.

That a baby's name may have a lifelong effect on their temperament and upbringing — their entire life for that matter — was a belief they acknowledged strongly in Abikiali so when giving a name to a child, the Abikialiians took their time to choose the best name possible. The newborn was usually named after relatives — dead or alive —, reputable people in the society or the circumstances surrounding their birth.

"In the case of this newborn, " Olamide began. "She will be named after her mother, my wife Nia and be given the surname, Afriyie, which means "being born at a good or happy time" in the Akan language," he concluded, his gaze fixed on the baby on his arms as his eyes shimmered with tears.

Almost everyone, if not all, was moved to tears by the scene they witnessed. The rest couldn't figure out which emotion they should express — the joy that a newborn has been added to the family and society? Or sadness that the birth of the child had also taken away someone they loved most? Or pity for the young girl who would have to live without her mother? Or perhaps anger that such an unfair tragedy had befallen them and it was the arrival of the newborn that brought it.

According to tradition, he was supposed to give her the name "Anto (didn't meet)" which was the perfect name for the circumstances she was born in but he defied tradition but for a good cause. Nia Afriyie was born out of love and wasn't going to deny her that by giving her a name that will tag her for the rest of her life as someone who didn't meet her mother. However hard it was going to be, he was determined to not let his daughter feel the absence of her mother.

"Unfortunately," Olamide continued after a long pause, "the actual circumstances surrounding Nia Afriyie's birth isn't that which her surname is from but I have made a choice to keep the memories of the good and happy times I had with my wife instead of her death because this is the only way I know I can survive the grief and be strong for my baby girl. I...I...I..." he tried to force the rest of the words out but he couldn't will his mouth to open.

Nana took the baby from Olamide's hands as she tried to encourage him to be strong.

It was time for the last ritual of the ceremony. Two cups were placed on a table with one filled to the brim with water and the other nsa (alcohol).

Nana dipped her index finger into the water and placed it on the tongue of Nia Afriyie as she chanted the words, "When you say it is water, it is water."

She dipped the index finger again into the nsa and placed it back on the baby's tongue and chanted, "When you say it is nsa, it is nsa." She repeated the process three times. She explained to the gathered that it was done to instil a sense of honesty in the newborn—the urge to always live in conformity with the truth for all her life. If the effects of truthfulness leave a pleasant taste in her mouth (water) or an unpleasant taste (nsa), truthfulness must always be upheld. That was the importance of the ritual.

The remaining alcohol and water were mixed for Olamide to drink bearing witness to guide the newborn on the path of honesty.

When the last ritual was performed, Nana held the baby up high to the sky as a way of presenting her to God the creator then she lowered her to the earth and presented her to the earth goddess after which brought her up and showed her to the gathered family members, who in affirmation, started clapping...shouting and cheering.

The agofommma began beating the animal skin Drum as loud as they could and as the reverberating sound echoed, it was meant to awake the inner spirituality of the newborn. Nia Afriyie as if on cue began to cry. As she screamed, tears were shed, again by the gathered. Her cries were to be stopped by her mother but she was nowhere to be found. No one wanted to talk about it. It was as if deep within everyone, they knew the days ahead weren't going to be easy for either the baby nor the father. But the least said about it, the better.

Now, the ceremony was over, or at least the boring part was over. It was time to present gifts to the baby and her father and make merry. As expected, a lot of gifts were brought in one after the other, each person kissing the toes of the baby before giving out the gift.

As the blazing sun descended and crawled back to its hideout filling the sky with a stunning and strong mix of amber and blood-red, the ceremony was brought to an end giving way for a new chapter in Olamide's life. 

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How do you think Olamide and his daughter will turn out after this tragic event?
Share your thoughts below.

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Chapter edited by: RubaiaMQ
and proofread by fayth_aidan