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"Denabo" or Baby Naming Ceremony
27 Aug 2008

The Fulbe love to get together with family and neighbors. There are many opportunities for this to happen because a huge feast is prepared for every baby naming ceremony, marriage, and funeral. The neighborhood women and family members are expected to help at every one of these events.

Baby naming ceremonies, also known as a denabo, are interesting. The ladies cook the majority of the meal on the evening before the denabo, finishing up the rest of the cooking first thing the next morning. Usually the actual naming of the child is at around 9:00 am. The name is kept secret until that moment when a sheep or goat is sacrificed and an elder of the village or neighborhood calls out a blessing followed by the baby's name. Money is collected at various times and carefully recorded. Gifts are brought for the family, usually fabric, clothes, or dishes for the parents and perhaps soap for the baby. Sometimes singers and drummers will come, expecting to be paid at least a 100 GF (approx. 5 cents) per song.

After the food is served and most everyone is gathered, the baby's head is shaved. Sometimes a special type of fruit with its leaves are placed in the bowl of water, and the leaves are used to moisten the hair before shaving. This is supposed to insure the baby will have good character.

Another interesting thing often happens at baby naming ceremonies. A married woman who has never had a baby or one who has not been able to conceive a second time will put the baby on her back, and carry wooden tablets with the Koran written on it. The married woman is then followed by many children who are chanting blessings on the future children she will hopefully conceive. After they are finished chanting a blessing on the "future mother", someone throws out candy to the children. This is similar to the American custom of throwing the bouquet to unwed girls.

The Fulbe greatly rejoice in large gatherings such as this and deem the greater number of people as a greater blessing and indication of status.

Stay tuned for photos of weddings.

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