REFLECTING THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW CHILD IN MY CULTURE

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Going through the discord group, I came across this contest by Hive cross-culture and decided to participate because it's been a while I haven't participated in their contest and the topic was eye catchy to pass by and that got me thinking about the things we do to welcome the arrival of a new baby.

As the topic says, REFLECTING THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW CHILD. Indeed children are blessings and no one except those who are fools and refuse to take responsibility will not be happy seeing a newborn baby.

Although, I, on the other hand, am always scared to carry them most especially if they are still days old because of fear of dropping them or perhaps fear of not carrying them well but I am always very excited to see them. Most especially the scent they carry. I hope you know every baby carries this particular scent that makes one know there is a newborn baby around, that scent alone sends me to the moon and back.

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The Use Of Powder

So, in my Akwa Ibom state where I come from, there is this particular norm I see people do which I guess is one of the ways of welcoming a new child to the world, and that is by using powder.

Once a lady gives birth and the people around her, neighbors, colleagues, friends, and families are informed, they all go in a bid to go and congratulate her and the baby but when coming out, they all come out with powders rubbed on their necks and perhaps on their faces if they wish.

It doesn't only stop in their homes, if she is a market woman in a particular area, the head of the market, or perhaps an elderly lady, is given a powder which was bought by her to go round the market informing people about the new child born into the world and gives everyone she tells the powder to rub and they all must use the powder, nobody is expected to reject the powder.

This is one of the interesting ways I have seen my people welcome the arrival of a newborn baby and they have never stopped practicing this act.



For this other part It would also be great to know how names are being chosen and given to the child in your culture.

Thousands of times, I have heard comedians made fun of Akwa Ibom names stating critically that our names always end with "bong" which is not true and I am here to tell us that.

Before a child bears a particular name, these few points I am going to list are always put into consideration in my culture.

- The situations or incidents that occurred during the time of his or her birth.

Many children are given names based on the challenging situations, good moments, or perhaps I could say they are given names based on the sad or happy moment the parents went through when they conceived the child.

- Resemblance

Many people give their child names base on the child's resemblance, perhaps seeing the child, they realized the child takes a resemblance to their father or mother or perhaps any good person in their family. They tend to give that child the person's name as a namesake.

Also, we have another way which is just in case one of the parents or most especially the father is in pain perhaps due to the loss of his father or mother whom he loved and coincidentally, during that period, the child is born, there is bound to be a transfer of names to the child with the ideology that "it is their parents that came back to life" and this so gives them much joy. Cherishing that child like they would cherish their parents.



These are the few ways I know names are being chosen for newborn babes and how they are welcomed on their arrival to the world in my culture. I hope I have been able to put in my article what you need.

I invite @zanoz to participate in this contest and here is the link.



Thank you all for always finding time to read through my content, my happiness has no bounds when I see your comment, reblogs, and upvote on my articles. I pray that God bless you all for real.

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27 comments
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I agree with you about the resemblance point, most child are given name based on the fact that they may look like their grandparent and they give them the name to qualify that their parent came back to them. Also I was just smiling reading through the part you said you are always afraid to carry a young child due to the fear of dropping them.

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You are indeed right about what you said 😍😘. But that's true, I remember during the covid, a friend of mine gave birth and I happily went with others to visit. When others were carrying the newborn child, I was just watching. They all noticed it and brought the baby to me which I refused saying that I was afraid to carry the baby and that he is too small, I might drop him or not carry him well which will lead to me hurting him.

Everyone was shocked at my response but that's how it has been. Don't touch a baby until they are strong or perhaps weeks and months old.

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Wow I really love carrying babies o even though am a guy. You know how guys carry babies now. With swag and taking different snaps. Fun All the way

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Wow, that's cool to hear you know. It means your wife won't be the only one carrying the baby, that's great. 👌

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Sure. That's definitely gonna be a cool one for me

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The arrival of a baby in our country seems to be celebrated in such a graceful manner.
Thanks for the invite

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Yeah, you can say that again. We welcome children with open hands.

You are welcome.

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In my culture is usually picked at hand by the parents and most of these subjets are non ritualism

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Okay, parents are the ones who do the job of picking, just that, they take into consideration most of those things I mentioned above in my own culture.

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This is beautiful to know and read. During my sister's own, biscuits was shared to everyone who came to greet the mother and the child.
I love the sound of a new born baby 😁

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Wow, most people share biscuits and minerals but the powder ritual is a necessary rite.

I love the sound of a newborn baby 😁
😮, that's great to hear.

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Yes you are right, babies always carry a good scent which will make people and me especially to have great passion to babies.

I have visited newly born parents several times and I came out white with powder.

My children's names start with H and are similar with means they have same meaning.

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I have visited newly born parents several times and I came out white with powder.
😂, that's the way they roll.

My children's names start with H and are similar with means they have same meaning.
Wow, that's cool.

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Culture is very interesting and it is the basis for which the human race behave differently. One thing that makes it very enterprising isn't he fact that culture has a link one from the other.
Talking about cuddling a newborn baby, I have fears too. It feels like the baby is not strong enough to be carried by different hands

The fear is still here till now.

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You got it but you know, most times fear for the unknown isn't the best and it even keeps us from enjoying the things we are supposed to enjoy.

The truth is, these babies won't break, they've been shaped so perfectly by God to be carried by people. So we fear what won't even happen, isn't that absurd 🤣🤣🤣.

Thanks, for your comment.

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I hope that this fear will be defeated soon. I have had this issue of carrying infants, even my kids when they were newly born, I rarely touched them until when they were about three to four months old.

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Wow, that's way too much. It would be if you are conscious about working on it.

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We have same phobia when it comes to handling them, I'm always sacred they'll break or will mishandle them but I will learn when I get married.
Yeah, the use of powder is common among other cultures as well as the naming process. It fascinating how almost the entire African culture make use of powder as a sign for a baby's arrival

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Wow, that's great. Yeah, you've got to learn because it won't be fair on your wife that she is the only one carrying the baby because of your fear.

It's indeed amazing.

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Uhm, this will be tough

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It will be, but what must be done, should be done.

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I see know reason why you would be afraid to carry a new born baby due to the fear of dropping them,don't be afraid carry them and sing them lullabies and would see how lovely it his to also give birth your own child.Then talking about using powder when you are coming to visit a new born baby and his mother sounds weird but it's really amazing am glad to have come across your post.Thanks for sharing ma'am.

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Lols, I will I guess it's too many movies and assumptions that have created this fear but I will learn to do away with it gradually.

It's weird but fun, most people plaster this powder all over their body due to excitement that you can't help but laugh when you see them come out of the room.

Thanks for stopping by.

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This is the first time I have heard about getting laid off by those who are going to meet the boy. Here when going to meet the child it must be taken into account that the child cannot be carried if the woman is pregnant, this would give the child pushes (proven), the difficult thing is to know if the woman is pregnant because we never know until we feel that the child is pushing a lot. Another care is not to take the newborn out at night, this will make his stool turn green (proven), I do not know why this is due but it is very true if the child grabs night cereum. Thanks for sharing your myths friend @evegrace.

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I think I've read a similar culture to this and I must say every culture has its own uniqueness indeed.

That powder aspect is becoming a common thing I guess, it's done in most culture here in Nigeria and I like the idea behind it.

I think I can relate the naming a child after a dead relative as "Reincarnation" they tend to feel that the dead person came back to life as a baby... I seriously don't know what to believe in that, every person has his or her own uniqueness and that's it.

Nice entry, all the best in the contest.

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I'm also scared to carry new born babies, I'm always scared something will happen to them and it will be my fault. It look so fragile.

I have noticed that powder thing once, I always wonder what was the reason behind it. Did you ask why they do it?


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