Welcome Dede! An African Naming Ceremony

This vibrant photo‑essay style book warmly introduces readers to Ghanaian cultural traditions, making the naming ceremony lively and accessible for young children.

This book introduces a new baby into an African family. It tells the story of how they will name the child through a naming ceremony.

From Booklist
K-Gr. 3. As in One Big Family: Sharing Life in an African Village (1997), Onyefulu's new photo-essay draws on her rich West African heritage to celebrate a strong cultural tradition. Told from the viewpoint of Amarlai, a Ga boy in Ghana, the handsome full-color photos and clear narrative show the particulars of a newborn and her extended family as small notes discuss the meaning of the community celebration. Amarlai's uncle explains that names tell a lot about people, including where they come from, what their tribe or clan is, the day of the week they were born, and their birth order. The photos picture people in traditional dress and in jeans, cooking and preparing for the party, and bringing gifts of money, food, and show more beautiful clothes. A joyful view of people today in touch with their roots. Hazel Rochman
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This book is a book about the naming ceremony in some African cultures. Once the baby is born, they must wait to be given their name because they decide what the name should be based on how the child acts.