Naming Ceremony in Bali Nyonga

BCA-USA MIRROR NAMING CEREMONY IN BALI NYONGA

By Ma Awa Nukuna

In Bali Nyonga, when a child is born, there is a day set aside for their ritual outing – a presentation to the public. This ritual outing holds significance to the family as this is when the child is given their middle name which also builds the child’s social identity. The ceremony is attended by both maternal and paternal relatives as well as friends of the family.

TWINS

When twins are born into a family, it is reported to the person responsible for performing traditional rites. A long time ago, Ba Tita Fongwa was responsible for performing these rites. When he died, it was transferred to Ba Tom Gwanmesia. He was the head of the Tanyis and Manyis. He knew the big Manyis (mothers of twins) to call for the occasion. The Manyis will cook their plantains. The mouth of the pot with plantains is tied with plantain leaves for them to come and open. They will bring special leaves called “mumbɔd” ground camwood and tie it in two rolls and also bring two bottles of palm oil, two bundles of salt, Calabar chalk and “nidem” for the ceremony.

At the compound, they will tie the mumbɔd on the head of Manyi and Tanyi as well as other Tanyis (fathers of twins) and some older twins. They will rub bɨ̀ (camwood) on their feet and mark their chests and side of the head with Calabar chalk. There is another grass called “fɨ̌fəm”. It is used like peace plant. It is shown on the people’s forehead using the left hand to cut and put inside the mumbɔd leaf. These is mixed together, and kept ready for hiding. This mixture is the special leaf and the “ntɔŋ” (navel). The Manyis will put salt in one place and palm oil in another plate. This will be placed in the middle of the laŋju’ (compound) where they sit around. Twin songs will be tuned for everybody to sing and dance and put money in

Ma Awa Nukuna the plate. The money in the plate goes to Ba Tom and the big Manyis while the “small Manyis” get the cooked plantains. But if the concerned is rich, he gives them money also. The remaining salt and oil used outside is given to the senior maternal grandmother. A live chicken is brought and given to Ba Tom. He cuts the chicken in the middle of the chest without killing it first to remove the heart. While the bird is still shaking, the officiant takes out the heart and gives it to the new Manyi to swallow with the blood. The reason behind this is to give the new mother courage and strength: when Manyi hears anything suddenly, her heart should be strong (to imbue Manyi with courage and a brave heart). A twin bag is also brought by the head of the Tanyis. Inside the twin bag there must be Calabar chalk and nidem. These are meant for the new Manyi to chew and rub them on the twins when they are sick. However, with the evolution of society, people have converted these expenses into cash and now give money to the concerned because of Christianity. If the twins are boys, they will be called Samgwa’a and Samjela.* If the mother has triplets where one is a girl and the others are boys, the name of the girl will be Nahyenni.

BCA-USA MIRROR PROCEDURE FOR BOY CHILD

When the Tangwis arrive the compound, they take the mother and the twins outside the house. A boy or man will lead the walking around the house. The leader carries a cutlass which he uses to clear the farm. This is a symbolic gesture to show that boy will clear the farm in future. Following behind is Tangwi who backs him but faces the Mamon. The leader holds the finger of Tangwi. Mamon carries the baby and their legs are lifted in rhythm. A male archer follows behind her carrying a pack of bows and arrows. The archer gently shoots the new mother’s back with harmless bows and arrows. The archer is followed by men carrying guns and spears symbolizing things a man will need later on in life. The group walks around house three times. On the third time, the new mother enters the house and stands behind the door and closes it. A Tangwi carries water in a traditional bowl, stands in front of the door and knocks on it two times, calling the name of the mother of the twins. The latter doesn’t answer. At the third knock, the mother will answer and open the door. On coming out

of the house, the Tangwi throws the water on the body of the mother and the baby. The aim of this rite is to ensure that the new born shouldn’t have a bad dream. Other interpretations indicate that the aim of this is to give the newborn courage. The mother sits outside carrying her baby. With family and friends now gathered in the family compound, the Tangwi will bring fumumbɔd, fu fɨ̌fəm, a bottle of oil, a bundle of salt. The Mamon brings the baby’s “ntɔŋ” (navel). A Tangwi puts the “ntɔŋ” inside “fumumbɔd”. A blade is used to trim the baby’s hair and put inside the leaf. This is then mixed together with the palm oil and salt. The big Tangwi takes the fɨ̌fəm plant with the left hand, shows on the people’s forehead, they shake their heads left/right, cut a bit of the leaf and put inside the mumbɔd leaf. When the ceremony is finished, she mixes the leaves and gets ready for hiding the navel. The navel is hidden in a grass roof or in between plank and zinc roof inside. The manner of disposing the navel varies from compound to compound. In some compounds, the navel is buried. Later, a bit of ŋkaŋ (cornbeer) is put in the baby’s mouth to give his middle name. His heels are dipped inside the bowl of ŋkaŋ for people to drink. The food to be eaten that day will be plantains, fɨ̌fəm with meat, and vegetable/ mpà. Mamon can’t eat meat on that day because it is believed that if she eats it, she has eaten her baby’s ntɔŋ.

GIRL CHILD

The procedure is similar to that of the boy child with a few variations: The walking around the house is done 4 times not three. A hoe is used instead of a cutlass and a basket for vegetables is used instead of a bow and arrow. * Twins are not given “lɨŋ ŋkaŋ” (middle names) because they have their natural names. Twin boys: Samjella, Samgwa’a, Samkeah (for male triplets) Twin girls: Najella, Nagwa and Nahyenni (for triplet girls) Fu mumbɔd – piper umbellata leaves Tanyi – Traditional name given to the father of twins Manyi – Traditional name for a mother of twins Tangwi – paternal aunt ntɔŋ – Mungaka word for navel.