Catholic University of Ghana Transforms Classroom into Living Laboratory of African Naming Traditions

On April 29, 2026, a normally quiet lecture room at CUG became a vibrant stage for cultural exchange when students staged a traditional African naming ceremony as part of the MANDELA Project (Erasmus+). What began as an exercise in African Oral Literature turned into an immersive lesson in identity, belonging and intercultural respect.

At the centre of the performance, a young man gently cradled a baby, representing new life and the beginning of identity, while elders and family figures looked on with pride and anticipation. Each gesture, from the careful handling of the child to the symbolic presentation before the family, reflected the sacredness of naming across African cultures.

Guiding the activity were Prof. Stephen Ntim, Project Coordinator for CUG, together with Dr. Vida Korang, Dr. Lydia Asante, George Agbozo and Anthony Addai-Amoah, whose presence helped ensure the performance remained respectful, accurate and pedagogically rich. The classroom atmosphere shifted from observation to participation: audience members responded with smiles, attentive silence and thoughtful questions, and many students reported feeling a stronger connection to their own cultural roots.

Organizers say the session served more than a cultural showcase: it was an experiential tool to strengthen cultural identity, foster empathy, and build a sense of belonging among participants. In the following classes, instructors observed heightened engagement and deeper, more reflective discussions—signs that the event had a lasting educational impact. Coordinators plan follow-up evaluations, including reflective essays and short surveys, to measure changes in cultural awareness and student wellbeing over the semester.

More than a one-off performance, the event underscored the MANDELA Project’s aim to make multicultural learning active rather than purely theoretical. By bringing traditions into the classroom, CUG reinforced the importance of preserving cultural heritage and demonstrated how shared rituals can connect diverse communities in meaningful ways.