There are different cultures in the whole world and the way they celebrate their child's birth. Culture is a way of life of people living in a confined area. Giving birth to a child is a blessing and indeed a day of joy to the parents. From the first day of pregnancy to the day when the child will be born, the woman will not be allowed to do much work. She will be doing less work instead of hard work, which will later stress the woman when giving birth. We in Nigeria here believed so much in our women, most, especially when they are pregnant.
Some people do get a perfect name for their child even before the child is born. This is as a result of the happiness of the parents. They sometimes call people to celebrate their unborn children which show the sign of happiness, this is common to the royal family. When the child is now a boy, it can truly give them joy for they will have a strong belief in the male children for they will be the ones taking over their throne while they grow older.
Back to business
In my culture, when a child is born, people come around to celebrate with you. They will first come to great you, and after which their next coming will be to bring gifts to the child. They will bring all kinds of gifts like clothes, detergents and bathing soap for the child, and other kinds of gifts.
Names and Naming Ceremony
Every name given to any ISOKO child has a meaning attached, which may be as a result of the circumstances of the arrival of the baby. This means any names the child bears is according to how he or she was given birth to. This is our belief and for instance, if your child is given a name called good luck means he will be great in life and his guest in life OR OGHOKUMUEMU (Meaning doing good is a sin). This shows that before the child's birth, the parents have been helping people but when they needed help when the woman is pregnant, they were turned down.
The child's parent gives the name(s) to the child, and also the grandparents have the opportunity to give names to the child. The child on the other hand will have many names.
The Isoko culture has changed just because of the modernization or else, the child after birth will not be to be seen by anyone apart from the family members until it is time for naming which is 8 weeks just because of cultural belief that wicked ones may inflict their wicked hands on the child.
So, when it is eight (8) days, the child will be circumcised. Females also do circumcise but are not common again just because of civilization. So, either the mother to the woman or the man will come to help the woman, most, especially in the aspect of bathing the child. They will stay for some time before going back.
The Umbilical cord after it has been removed will be buried in a plantain sucker or any plants that can bear fruits. This will automatically belongs to the child when he grows you.
When the baby is in three months, he or she will be taken to the church for dedication.
Things have changed, and the child will always be indoor, but people will visit the family until it is the naming day.
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