The ceremony includes a formal procession of the child into the ceremony with the adult figures that have played major roles in the child’s life; the lighting of candles signifying an introduction to the Seven African Powers and the principles they represent; sung prayers offered to the Seven African Powers by the presiding priest and choir with drumming; the offering of prayers by the presiding priests, elders, parents, and other adult figures; the releasing of seven, fourteen, or twenty-one doves with prayers for luck, health, wealth, and prosperity; and, if desired, a formal communion with prayers and/or vows as the child assumes responsibility for his or her actions and for the knowledge of the difference between right and wrong.

The child is dressed in full regalia: girls in gown, veil, lace, and jewels, and boys in tuxedo, to further symbolize the passage into adulthood. After the ceremony, if desired, a reception can follow, complete with a catered meal and a collection of gifts and offerings for the child as he or she steps into the next stage of his or her life.

Each of the candles lit during the ceremony has a profound significance relevant to the development of the child into a young adult. As the ceremony progresses, each of these significances is explained to the child to empower him or her with the principles they embody.