Naming Ceremony

During our first week in training village, our village hosted a naming ceremony to give us trainees Gambian names. This is done for cultural integration and because Gambians often have a hard time pronouncing many American names. In Gambia when a baby is born, by tradition, the mother and baby remain inside the house for seven days. Villagers bring food and visit during this week. On the seventh day a naming ceremony is held for the child. The name is chosen by the elder village males who gather in the baby's compound, recite prayers led by the imam (village religious leader) and then declare his/her name. The imam then shaves the baby's head. Usually this is followed by a celebration with villagers and family that includes eating fried dough balls (which are delicious) and juice, dancing, giving money to the mother and father, and passing around the newborn.

Our host families each chose a name for us before the ceremony. Women and children gathered around the center mat and the male villagers, including the alkalo (village leader) and the imam, sat in front of the mat. When we were called, each trainee kneeled on the mat. The imam declared our full names and then mocked shaving the front of our heads. My name is Fatoumatta Bah and I was named after my younger sister. The women and children started clapping and we had to dance on the mat. The Gambians love our inability to dance.

In one of my anthropology classes senior year, we read about the joking relationships that exist between certain tribes and surnames throughout Africa. These established relationships built on humor and friendship help to decrease tension between these various groups and form partnerships. My surname in training village was Bah. The surname Bah jokes with the surname Jallow. Almost everyday in village I would joke with someone from the Jallow compound telling them that they love to eat or that their head has no water (common jokes). Just today in Kombo outside of the grocery store, I started talking with a Fula woman selling peanuts. Within thirty seconds of meeting her, I joked that she is a professional eater because her surname was Jallow. The joking and laughs form an instant connection between people. It is so neat because I read about these cultural phenomenons only six months ago and now I am performing and involved in them.