One of the most important rituals associated with birth in the culture of Niger is the naming ceremony, called a cebe (pronounced "chay-bay"). On the eighth day after the birth of a child, family and friends gather early in the morning to name the baby and celebrate the birth. The men sit on mats or chairs outside the house while the women gather together inside or on the porch and sit on mats.

Guests bring small monetary gifts for the family. Friends of the father pass out kola nuts (or dates) to the guests as a symbol of friendship and hospitality. The baby's head is shaved. Then someone slaughters a ram for the stew to be served to the guests at midday. Meanwhile, the name is announced by the religious teacher and everyone begins to pray in Arabic. The prayers last about five minutes, and then everyone leaves until noon, when they all come back for the feast.

Developing a Christian Cebe

Along with the new believers in our town, we have developed a baby naming ritual which complements the culture but also includes other elements from Scripture. At these naming ceremonies, many things are the same as in any cebe. The men sit outside while the women sit in the house or on the "porch." Usually, a small gift of kola nuts or dates will be given to each guest, and guests bring some money to give to the family.

I, as the religious teacher, announce the name of the baby. Often, I am given the privilege of choosing the name. We have a time of prayer for the family and the baby, in the Songhai language, not in Arabic. A meal of rice and sauce with goat or sheep meat will be prepared for the guests, but the animal won't be slaughtered right at the moment of the naming.

Biblical Distinctives

The distinctives are in the teaching that I give along with the prayers. First, I talk about the fact that God loves children and holds them in His hand. Then I give a short Gospel presentation, and afterwards I read a charge to the father to exhort him to be a godly example and to train the child.

Finally, I announce the name. If I've been given the privilege of naming the child, I choose a Bible name and first talk about that character in the Bible. After a prayer, I go to the house where the mother is and pray for the mother and the child. I usually take the child in my arms and hold him/her while I am praying. Then if my wife Nancy has not come, I give the mother an outfit for the baby, which Nancy has chosen ahead of time.

Ayuba and Yakuba

This is the time of year when there are a lot of cebes. In another village, I have assisted at two Christian naming ceremonies. At both of them, I was given the privilege of naming the baby. I named the first Yakuba (Jacob) and the second Ayuba (Job).

Yakuba was quiet and slept through my prayer of blessing for him. Ayuba was a rascal. Not only did he scream and yell when they passed him to me for the prayer, but as I was praying, Ayuba decided to let loose from another end. No sooner had I begun to pray than Ayuba peed in his pants. Actually, to be more accurate, since babies in Africa don't wear diapers, he peed on my pants. He was covered in a cloth, but it was very thin, and the liquid quickly soaked through. Then I heard a soft gurgling sound, and the liquid on my pants started turning yellowish-brown.

At this point, the mother noticed my predicament and her friend snatched the baby away and started pouring water all over my pants from a plastic tea kettle that people use to wash. Meanwhile, I continued my prayer of blessing as though nothing had happened. All was proceeding as normal. We finished without any further ceremony or interruptions, and the baby was properly named and dedicated.

Now that is a story to write home about!

Read another SIM missionary Rachel Van Veen's blog about a naming ceremony