The Naming Systems of the Baganda and Their Significance For Christian Baptism.
Date
1998-02
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
From my experience among the Baganda as far as naming is concerned, it is clear
that during the naming ceremony people rejoice a lot. This happiness comes partly because
a new person has officially joined the community. However, when it comes to the Christian
baptism among the Baganda, the happiness at this moment is not as much as it is at their
traditional naming ceremony. This prompted me to undertake this study. Whenever I
thought about this I felt challenged with a question, "could the naming systems of the
Baganda have any significance for Christian baptism?" I have also noticed that there is a
conflict between the Ganda naming and Christian baptism. I also want to see the meaning
of Christian baptism to the Baganda. In the process I hope to learn more about my people
and my Church, and also to contribute to an integration between African culture and
Christianity.
It would have been good to consider the naming systems of the people of Africa, but
because of the fact that Africa is big and has different communities with cultural and
linguistical diversities, it would make it hard for me to carry out a detailed research within the
limited time that I have for the whole project. Therefore, I opted to concentrate on one in
Uganda, and this is the Ganda community about which I have a wide range of experience;
and I am a member of this community.
In this paper I have taken the Catholic Church to which I belong as my reference
Description
Keywords
Bangada, Birth, names, Naming Ceremony, Ancestral Names, Clan Names, Baptism