A Nigerian man has stirred controversy after a video surfaced online showing him taking his daughter to a river, allegedly dedicating her to a river goddess. The footage, which has since gone viral, captured the moment he stood on a canoe, facing the water while performing what appeared to be a traditional ritual.
The post, which was shared on a popular social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), has sparked heated debates and mixed reactions from internet users.
In the viral video, the man could be seen standing barefoot on a wooden canoe, holding his daughter securely in his arms while speaking inaudibly towards the river. The background showed a vast body of water, adding to the ritualistic ambiance of the event.
Although his words were not clearly captured, the caption of the video suggested that he was performing a dedication ceremony, offering his daughter to the river goddess as part of a traditional belief system. After speaking for a while, he carefully placed the child’s feet in the water before lifting her back up, marking what appeared to be the completion of the ritual.
The video has since triggered a wave of reactions, with many social media users questioning the implications of such practices on the child’s future.
See some reactions below:
@feast_flicks: “When this child grows up and starts exhibiting strange behaviors, he’ll act surprised, forgetting that he did this.”
@ojehtoju: “This is someone’s future girlfriend, wife, and mother. And then we’ll be wondering why some people behave in a certain way.”
@Drey_wrldX: “He might as well have done a full baptism for the child to complete the initiation… Nonsense.”
@toluwalase24_: “Omooo! Some people go about their daily lives without prayers, not knowing the battles they are facing.”
@Chrisnx19: “Someone will grow up experiencing countless struggles without realizing the root cause traces back to their childhood.”
WATCH VIDEO:
Nigerian man dedicating his child to Mami Water😳😳 pic.twitter.com/IPQrry6XKP
— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) March 26, 2025