The Impact of Christianity on Traditional Naming Ceremony in the New Juaben Traditional Area

Abstract

This study sought to explore the influence of Christianity on the African Akan naming ceremony with focus on the people of New Juaben Traditional Area. The developmental stages of human life experience have been earmarked by rites of passage that represent crucial facets in the cultural outlook and make-up of every society. These rites of passage include birth and childhood rites (naming ceremony), puberty, marriage and death rites. The Akan like every other society practises the naming ceremony in a way that reflects their cultural values, beliefs and traditions. Unfortunately, this culturally engineered practices have posed an ethico-religious dilemma regarding the ideal naming ceremony approach for an African Akan Christian. The aim of the study was realized through sampling 20 participants who were subjected to in-depth interview sessions. The study found out that Christianity has impacted Akan traditional naming ceremony in ways such as timing of naming ritual, traditional familial roles, naming rituals and emblems and the type of name given to the child. Conclusively, traditional religious adherents must constantly uphold its cultural heritage in the face of modernism which may sometimes demand a change in customs and societal traditions. Giving relevance to traditional naming ceremonies is the first step. The study recommends the need to document cultural practice for future generations as lived experiences may be tainted by factors that tend to demonize the Akan cultural practice of naming ceremonies.