An outdooring is the ceremony at which a new baby is brought out to meet the family and given its name. Among the Akan it is abadinto; among the Ga, kpodziemo. It is one of the gatherings everyone in Accra is invited to sooner or later.

When

Traditionally on the eighth day after the birth, early in the morning - often at dawn - in the family house. Until then the baby is kept indoors and treated as a visitor who has not yet decided to stay; the ceremony welcomes it as a member of the family.

Today many families hold the rite itself early and quietly, and the celebration later, on a weekend, with a canopy, food and music. A church naming is often part of the day or replaces the traditional one.

What happens

Customs differ between families and peoples, and the family’s elders lead, but the shape is usually this:

  • The name is given by the father’s side. An elder, or a respected person the family has chosen, announces the name.
  • Water and drink. The baby is given a touch of water and then of drink
  • usually gin or schnapps - on the tongue, and told to say what is true: water is water and drink is drink. Among the Ga this teaching of the difference between truth and falsehood is the heart of the rite.
  • Prayers and libation for the child’s health and long life.
  • Gifts, then food and drink for everyone.

The names

Akan children get a day name for the day of the week they were born - Kofi or Afua for Friday, Kwame or Amma for Saturday, and so on - which is why so many Ghanaians share one. The family adds a name, often after a relative the child is meant to follow, and many families a Christian or Muslim name too.

Ga families have their own lines of names, passed down through the generations, and twins and the children born after them have names of their own in both traditions.

As a guest

  • Bring a gift for the baby or money in an envelope for the parents. Baby clothes, toiletries and nappies are all welcome.
  • Wear white. It is the colour of joy and victory at an outdooring, in the way black and red are worn to a funeral.
  • Arrive when the invitation says, or for the celebration rather than the dawn rite if you were not asked to that.
  • Greet the elders first, from right to left.

The paperwork

The ceremony does not register the birth. The Births and Deaths Registry does, and registration is free within 12 months of the birth; after that it is late registration, which takes more documents. Register before or soon after the outdooring, using the name given there.

— Birth certificates — Having a baby in Accra — Funerals and social obligations — The knocking ceremony