Chapter 32: The naming ceremony
This ceremony must wait until the 12th day and the reason for this is related to an Igbo myth that every new baby must first be given some time to weight and choose if he really wishes to stay – that is, whether he wishes to be incorporated into the human community or if he desires to go back to where he came from. If the child dies before the naming ceremony and therefore could not be named, it is a sign that he has decided not to stay but has chosen to depart to the world of the unborn children. On the other hand, surviving up to that day is an indication to his Umunna that he has weighted and has chosen the option of membership in the human world.
According to the myth, a newborn baby is invested with a double-voice relationship and two dialects with which he communicates with two communities – one speech act is unknown to humans, he talks to his peers in the world of unborn children. They can lure him to come back to them through such continued exchange of views with them. With the other speech act like crying, he registers his presences in the human world, and through this, he requires a name by which to be known and related. The world of the unborn children is a world of beings without the body; they are spirits. In such a world, members have no need for names. We become complete human beings after being named. So once the child is named, his luck and invisible loyalty to his peers in the world of the unborn becomes broken.
This waiting for the twelve days to complete is calculated to give the mother of the child some time to heal and recuperate from the aftermath of childbirth; so she can be in a position to heal completely and be in good shape to host the agnate community during the naming ceremony.
The awaited naming ceremony was finally here, everyone including Ego was all in the Obiri when Ezinne brought out the baby for the first time and handed him over to his father who then presented him to his Umunna. Nnadozie standing upright carried the baby in one hand and a horn of palm-wine in another. Every other person was seated, well dressed with eyes pinned on him.
He began his presentation by saying that he wants the child to be called "Chukwuma". All present welcomed the name with a loud cheer. He then placed Chukwuma by the Ndebunze. Next, he placed a hoe and a machete – the two main farm tools, in the child's hands and said these prayers
"My son, with these tools your fathers lived well. We call upon you to acquaint yourself with them properly and be hard working. We wish you good fruits out of your labours. Live, grow, wax strong and may you bury your father, not the reverse. May the gods of our land bless and guide you".
All present responded with a chorus of Isee! After each prayer, while elders stroked their closed fist on the ground in front of them as they also chorus the fixed expression with cheers. Exchange of greetings and calling the child by his name commenced. Presents were presented to the child and lastly, there was a feast of palm wine and roasted meat made from the ram Nnadozie slaughtered.
The night of Chukwuma's naming ceremony made it the thirteenth night of Ego's stay with Nnadozie's family. He was true to his words; she was well taken care of by Chinyere. Everything she requested for and even those she didn't ask for was all provided for her. Ego was flabbergasted by the kind gesture she received from Nnadozie's household. They have already incorporated her into the family. She has really not done anything for the past three market days, other than eat good food, rest and sleep. She only went once to the stream because Chinyere playfully forced her to accompany her.
Ego who hasn't had anyone care for her since the death of her husband was now receiving so much of it; at first, she resented it but gradually they got her to accept and appreciate it. She received so much affection and concern that it got into her head, she was even considering accepting his request of being one of his wives. Gradually she began giving into his seduction, but destiny had bigger plans for her and it involves this new found happiness coming to an unexpected end.
The naming ceremony had long come to an end. Visitors and well-wishers had all gone to their various homes. Dusk soon faded into darkness; the cold harmattan night was bone piercing. It was that time of the night when every human being had gone to bed. A full moon hung like a great luminous pearl on the radiant breast of heaven. It lighted up the land beneath it like that of the eyes of the devil straight into the soul of the damned. The hut was silvered and transformed by the light of the moon. The silver light it provided was enough to see the face of one sitting next to you.
Ego was crawled up in the bamboo bed in her hut, sleeping dreamlessly when she subconsciously felt someone's cold rough palm slowly rubbing from her exposed knees into her concealed lap, upward towards her waist; at the same time, another hand was caressing her firm breasts. The bitter-sweet romance gradually brought her back to reality. The sound of a moan filled the quiet hut. She thought it was one of those her weird dreams that felt so real. But all that changed immediately she felt the weight of her rapist on top of her. He had successfully turned her over and had parted her legs.
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