The child is named and christened on this day. An animal such as a goat or a sheep is killed, food is prepared, and friends and family attend and celebrate. At the ceremony, passages from the Koran are read and sacrifices to ancestors and spirits are common. The purpose of the event is to secure a long and prosperous life for the child, and families often go into debt to celebrate the event. Islamic and voodoo practices are also evident in times of illness.
Herbs are mixed and spirits are consulted.
Prayers are offered and if no change occurs, the family may consider taking the individual to the local hospital, which may be miles and miles away. This worker shares that often the patient dies, after which an elaborated funeral is held. The ceremony usually combines Koranic prayers and chants and other traditional practices. Although traditional African religion has had a strong grip on the Mokole for centuries, Islam is causing some present changes in the culture as it infiltrates deeper into every aspect of their society. Islam now dictates weddings and the names given to children, and there is a strong influence from the large Muslim population of West Africa.