ABSTRACT
If the child is considered to be a ‘ reincarnated ancestor ', it is given the name of that ancestor as its ‘ drink-name '. Other children may receive any of a large number of gift names, including those which refer to Mawu (e.g., ‘ the gift of God ') or to the trowo. Some children, especially those whose elder siblings have died, are given deprecatory names intended to mislead malevolent spirits : they may be called, for example, ‘ rubbish ', or ‘ pig trough
mother, who carries it with her while she is doing housework and, usually, while she is farming, feeding it whenever it is hungry. The first interruption of this relationship comes with weaning, which is usually somewhat abrupt. Circumcision commonly takes place today at about four or five years, although formerly it was done between the ages of six and ten. All suitable boys of one town quarter are circumcised professionally on the same occasion, but apparently without particular ritual. Such boys are to some extent afterwards regarded as a special group. But at least until circumcision, and usually till about six or eight years of age, a boy continues to eat with his mother and remains exclusively in her care. After that he gradually associates more and more with his father. Daughters continue to eat with their mother, who is responsible for their education.
