The naming of a child was an occasion for all the members of a clan to come together to celebrate life. Unless there were complications in the delivery, the naming ceremony for a boy had to be performed within nine days of his birth. A girl's naming ceremony was usually performed within seven days.

On that day, all members of the clan or village had to be present to give their blessings to the newborn. Each immediate relative was required to come up with a name for the child, but the name given by the father's aunt was usually the name by which the child was known.

Some newborn babies were named after ancestors who had recently passed away or after particular events or occasions observed by the clan. Among the Ewe, a child was given the name of the...