All cultures are good in their own way, but I love my culture, Yoruba culture, so much. Not everything about it, but a few things I love and can pass on to my children are in the aspect of respect. I can say my culture is one of the most respectful cultures, maybe because I was born and brought up in it. When you see a good Yoruba parent, they always teach their children how to prostrate and kneel down from a young age, and this habit grows with the child.
Whenever the child sees an elderly person, they know what to do. In my culture, we don't shake hands with elderly individuals; instead, we bow our heads. Only if the elderly person extends their hand first, and even then, we'd rather bow than stretch out our hand to shake theirs. Female children kneel down, while male children prostrate as a sign of humility and respect. This brings happiness to elderly individuals, and they'll often say "Omo Yoruba rere," meaning "a good Yoruba person."
I love to pass this on to my children because it's an act of humility that can earn people favor. I'll teach my children how to show respect to everyone. Another aspect I cherish is "oriki" – cultural names given to children by elderly family members. Examples include Asake ("come together to care"), Ayoka ("happily everywhere"), and Arike ("we see her and care for her"), among many others.
Although oriki names are becoming less common due to misconceptions about their spiritual significance, I find them sweet and meaningful. I'd love to pass this tradition on to my children so they'll remember their Yoruba heritage, even when they're far from home.
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Some people aren't fond of being called by their oriki names outside their community because they feel ashamed of them. I find this puzzling – why be ashamed of a name that connects you to your cultural heritage? Instead, many prefer foreign names, especially English ones. You might see a Yoruba child with only foreign names that are difficult for others to pronounce.
In Yoruba culture, we have many beautiful names with deep meanings. Examples include Aanuoluwapo ("God's mercy is abundant"), Oluwabusayo ("God has added to my wealth"), Akorede ("he brings good things"), and Oluwadarasimi ("God is good to me"). These names are a treasure trove of our culture's richness.
I wouldn't want to let go of these beautiful names. I'll proudly give my children Yoruba names that reflect our heritage, passing on the cultural significance and beauty to them.
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I once attended a naming ceremony where the child was given only three foreign names – a Biblical name and two other foreign names – without any Yoruba name. I couldn't help but wonder where the cultural name was. It seemed like a missed opportunity to connect the child to their heritage.
I'm not saying foreign names are bad, but I believe it's essential to give children a cultural name that reflects their origin. This way, they'll always remember their roots. Personally, I love my Yoruba name, and I'd be proud to pass it on to my children. I'll make sure they bear names that reflect our rich cultural heritage.
In regard to hive -naija weekly prompt.