Does anyone able know anything about Nigerian customs/practices/ traditions/ceremonies and the like associated with the birth of a new (first) child? I know nothing and before I go hunting through books etc, I thought I'd ask. Thanx.

Well Idon't really know anything, so any info would be welcomed. I'm a bit scared to ask questions for fear of showing the full extent of my ignorance and/or causing offence, but I was particularly thinking in terms of traditional ceremonies - for example is there anything thats comparable to a Christian's christening of their children? (although I accept this is a religious practice rather than a culturally specific practice, its the only example I can think of) or, can all ceremonies/practices be done equally well here in the UK? Anything really.

There is no such thing as 'Nigerian' culture. Whereas you may have somthing like French or Spanish culture that is not the case for a country as diverse as Nigeria. It is a extremely diverse nation with over 250 ethnic groups which all have different cultures and customs. i.e.The Igbos do things differently from the Yorubas as do the Ijaws do things differently from the Urhobos. The Yoruba's hold naming ceremonies ten days after the birth of a child and other groups may do a naming ceremony on the day the child was born or even a month after. If a Urhobo lady marries in the church she must also have a traditional ceremony otherwise her husband will not be respected by her people as her husband. Which ethnic group are you interested in learning about?

do you have Nigerian partners?? if so why not ask them?
im just curious to know why you want to know about N customs concerning child birth?

may I ask what YOUR customes are and how you think they differ?

What about naming ceremonies? Sorry I don't know much myself but there are older nigerians on here than me who could help you more.

Which custom do you want to know about. The igbo custom is different from a Yoruba custom but both are Nigerian. Again, there is no 'Nigerian culture'.

@ Think it wasn't me wanting to know lol I just suggested the naming ceremony. She can find out more about it to the specific nigerian group she wants by asking the people around her.

I thought it would probably be the same anyway maybe a little variation.....asking people to contribute the names they want for the child but first it has to be the eldest person I think.

It isn't the same at all.

In most cultures the grandmother always name the child rather than the parents but the parents may add a name if they want but the grandmother's name is more likely to become the first name. The Yoruba's always have a naming ceremony exactly 10 days after the birth but the I know for a fact that the Igbo's and Urhobos don't. I don't know what the Hausas do but they are like a world apart from other Nigerians. The North and South regions in Nigeria are like two totally different countries and one could say that the only thing that unifies us and them is the colour of our skin.
Igbos love to eat akpu, the Yoruba's like their amala, the Urhobos like to eat starch i.e. The Yorubas traditional clothes for women are iro and bubba but the urhobos wear what we call 'up and down' like the igbos and the Ishans like to use brocade to sew their clothes. the differences are many and varied. Go to naijaryders.com and check out their forum as they have a good cultural one covering most of the groups in Nigeria from food, marriage, pidgin English and dress there with lots of contributions and you don't have to join to read them.

@ Think and BP, originally asked this question three years ago, i've since found the answers I was after - thanx

think, Yorubas actually have the naming ceremony on the 7th day, its not actually the 10th