A speaker recently introduced his offspring to his audience. For each he explained the meaning of the name and the context in which it was given. What he did not tell the Christian gathering was that the family may have also been involved in some traditional African rite to insure the approval of the children's names by the wider ancestral family. These thing are often not spoken of openly. Family rites in the cultural tradition are often kept within the family...." not for everyone"... "it belongs to us". It seems that among Christian peoples especially, there is a fear that the church or people in the church will be critical or even condemn involvement in traditional practices. So, people tend to become secretive.
Among younger people there could be a tendency to hide or mask involvement in traditional practices .. like naming rites, on the grounds of being 'modern'. " traditional practices are for the 'old people'..........it's what the 'old people do or did" so younger people may try to hide their involvement or perhaps even ignore traditional practices because the don't want to be regarded critically in contemporary 'universal' culture as 'superstitious'.
But somehow, in the end, the importance of traditional practices cannot be ignored... and here the focus is on "naming ".In Africa names have meaning. Names have power. names it is understood can shape children's lives.
A young woman with the Setswana name meaning 'tears' constantly relates the stream of difficulties in her life to the meaning of her name. "My name is 'tears' .... I have a life of tears" she will say.
A the wider family of a pregnant sixteen year old gathered themselves with their ancestors to discuss the schoolgirls situation and that of her soon to be born baby. The decision was that she should not give the child to a family member but suckle and raise it herself. There was a condition attached to this. The child must be called 'It is agreed'.. In this the little girl child grew up with the comfort of knowing she was wanted, settled and approved of by the whole wider family and her ancestors.
Names are sometimes given in addition to the given name in order to satisfy the spiritual dimension of the child's life. ... and this is not only to be found in black African communities.
In South Africa we have a Tamil speaking Hindu community. Nine days after birth the priest is visited to give the naming requirements for the child. Usually the first letter or first letters of the name that will provide the child with its spiritually approved identity. Parents will take this name as the child's name. If they have given the child a name of their own choice then the 'religious name' will be an additional perhaps second name for the child.and used as the child's religious or spiritual identity. A Tamilian mother of two said " I suppose I didn't want to use the 'religious ' names for the children as their given names because at the time I wanted to be seen as a modern woman"
But what if , in Africa this is ignored .
Often the indications that naming rites, and naming approvals have not been satisfactorily done is manifested in ongoing misfortune or constant sickness and even in misbehaviour...often bring distress to the parents and family.Getting the right name, then becomes important in shifting the pattern of the child's life. Names approved in the spiritual dimension have powerful effect on the well being of the child and the family.
This was so for Simon, son of Jonas. ..... son of the fluttering dove. .. The Simon , disciple of Jesus who was impulsive, outspoken often inappropriately, unsettled, denied even knowing him......... " You will be called 'Peter'.... the 'rock'..... and we experience a new character: foundational, reliable and upholding of patience and tolerance.
So the idea is not new, nor confined to black Africa. But it is very much an African thing..... Names, naming and naming rites..cannot be ignored.
The question is simple as always.
What significance do names. naming and naming rites have for us in our everyday practice as child and youth care workers in the African context.?
In therapeutic work in Africa, we may have to think this through very carefully..../ and will we have to change anything in our procedures and practice to be fully African in Africa???
No comments:
Post a Comment