1:2 Ìsọmọlórúkọ - Naming Ceremony

Naming a newborn baby is more than simply choosing a name. In Yoruba culture, one's name tells a story and plays an important role in the outcome of one's life. The naming ceremony involves selected items and prayers to ensure that the baby grows to enjoy a sweet and fruitful life.

Author

Ifagbenosola Popoola
October 06, 2024

Ìsọmọlórúkọ is a combination of four words.

Ì - The process of

Sọmọ- giving a child

Ní - a

Orúkọ- name

This is not just about picking a name and giving to a child from the sweetness of our hearts.The name given to a child must play a very important role and also tell a short story about such a child's birth.

Some examples of names that tell a story:

  • Abídèmí: This name shows the father wasn't around when the child was born.

  • Kòsọ́kọ́: Literally meaning “no more hoe”, this name reveals that the child is an àbíkú (one destined to die young). In this context, “no more hoe” is a statement that the family has run out of the implement with which to dig the ground if he decides to die again. It demands that the child live long.

  • Òjó: A child born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.

All these names tell a significant story about the child and how they came to be in existence. We have many more.

Giving a child a name is easy, it's the process by which the name is given that truly matters. In Yoruba culture, the major materials used in the process of a naming ceremony are

  • Ifa

  • Obi (kola nut)

  • Orogbo (bitter kola)

  • Orange

  • Gin

  • Honey

  • Palm oil

  • Dried rat

  • Dried fish

  • Cool water

  • Sugarcane

  • Alligator pepper

  • Money

  • Àádùn

  • Salt

All these items are used to pray one after the other to make the child's new journey sweet, fruitful, and prosperous as indicated in the Ifa verse below.

Pankere janwon nan

Awo inu igbo

Adifa fun Orisa nla Oseremagbo

Ti o fa'dun fun ireke

Ebo won ni kose

O gbebo, O rubo

Ti aba laaje eni lowo

Sebi aladun ara eni ni

Orisa nla n lo fa'dun fun ireke

Ifa je n radun ara mi je

Bi aba laaya eni nile

Sebi aladun ara eni ni

Orisa nla nlo fa'dun fun ireke

Ifa je n radun ara mi je

Bi aba nire gbogbo lowo

Sebi aladun ara eni ni

Orisa nla nlo fa'dun fun ireke

Ifa je n radun ara mi je

Pankere janwon nan,the Awo of forest

Cast Ifa for Orisa nla Oseremagbo

Who will endow sugarcane with sweetness

If one has his wealth

It's surely one's sweetness

Orisa endows sugarcane with sweetness

Ifa, please let me enjoy sweetness of my own

If one has a spouse

It's surely one's sweetness

Orisa endows sugarcane with sweetness

Ifa please let me enjoy sweetness of my own

If one has all the good things in life

It's surely one's sweetness

Orisa endows sugarcane with sweetness

Ifa please let me enjoy sweetness of my own

Ogunda Meji

See you all in class.

~ Ifagbenusola Owomide Popoola