The morning of the Ngente is filled with excitement. Family members, relatives, and neighbours gather at the family home, dressed in their finest traditional attire. Women are wrapped in bright wrappers, men don flowing boubous, and children sport new clothes adorned with intricate patterns and colours. The air buzzes with the beats of drums, rhythmic clapping, and lively chatter echoing through the neighbourhood, creating the perfect backdrop for the day’s festivities.

At the heart of the ceremony is the symbolic act of shaving the baby’s hair, an ancient ritual believed to cleanse the child and ensure a fresh start. A special Calabash bowl is prepared for this purpose, containing grains such as rice, millet, or corn, along with cola nuts, salt, a bar of soap, and cotton. Each item carries a special meaning: the water in the bowl represents wisdom, filled to the brim in hopes that the child will grow up to be wise and knowledgeable. The grains signify food and sustenance, while the salt symbolizes love and the soap represents cleanliness and purity. Cotton signifies the need for proper clothing, and the cola nuts embody blessings and spiritual significance.

Before the shaving begins, a respected elder or Islamic scholar offers prayers and blessings for the child’s future. Then, with gentle hands, the baby’s hair is shaved off, and the weight of the hair is measured. Tradition dictates that the family donates the equivalent weight in silver as charity, signifying gratitude and the family’s hopes for the baby’s prosperity and success.

Once the baby’s head is shaved, the chosen name is whispered into its ears, accompanied by the recitation of the Azaan—the Muslim call to prayer. The baby’s name is more than just a label; it is a carefully selected word that carries the weight of family heritage and honour. It might reflect an ancestor’s virtues, a spiritual aspiration, or simply a wish for the child’s bright future. As the name is revealed, cheers and applause erupt, and the baby is officially welcomed into the community.

The Ngente ceremony is not complete without a feast. Mothers, aunts, and grandmothers prepare an array of Gambian dishes such as benechin (a flavourful one-pot rice dish) domoda (a rich peanut-based stew). The aroma of spices and simmering sauces fills the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and celebration.

Guests shower the family with gifts, including money, clothes, and essential items for the baby, while griots (traditional praise singers) chant songs of blessings and encouragement for the child’s journey ahead.

A symbolic sacrifice of a goat or sheep often follows, marking the family’s gratitude for a safe birth and their prayers for the child’s protection. The meat is shared among family, neighbours, and the less fortunate, reinforcing the bonds of community and ensuring that the joy of the new birth touches as many people as possible.

Throughout the day, the baby, adorned in colourful clothes and delicate jewellery, is passed from one relative to another, each person offering blessings, love, and good wishes. Elders share words of wisdom, the mother change into beautiful new outfits, and everyone, young and old, partakes in the joy of the Ngente. Though the mother and father might sit as quiet observers, especially if it’s their first child, the ceremony celebrates not just the baby but the entire family’s place in the community.

The Ngente is more than just a naming ceremony—it is a powerful affirmation of belonging and love, a cherished tradition that ensures every child knows they are part of a community that celebrates them from the very beginning.