Birthing Traditions Still Practiced Today In Some African Tribes
When you think of the sterile hospital rooms, drugs and enormous medical staff involved in some urban hospital maternity wards, you’ll gain a lot of respect for the women of these African tribes. These birthing traditions are still practiced today in some African tribes.
Source: Africantribesuws.wordpress.com, Spiritualbirth.net
A mother’s help
In the Kenyan tribe Samburu, a pregnant woman lives with the father of the child until giving birth. After having the child, the mother moves in with her mother for several years. The idea behind it is that, after having a baby, a woman has “made an error” and isn’t allowed to see or speak to her husband for a while.
Giving birth gets respect
Among the San of Southern Africa who live in the Kalahari desert, when a woman gives birth she earns status and social recognition.
Cleaning the cord
In the Umtata tribe of the Eastern Cape, friends and family of the pregnant woman prepare a cleansing substance of ash, sugar and a certain poisonous fruit. This substance is used to essentially clean the umbilical cord when it’s cut.
Smoking out the fear
The Umtata tribe practices the sifudu tradition, burning a pungent leaf and turning the baby over the smoke of the fire. The tradition is meant to ensure the baby will never be afraid of anything as an adult.
Painting away the evil
After performing Sifudu, some women of the Umtata tribe covers their babies in a white substance called ingceke collected from a riverbank. The substance is mixed with a strong-smelling wood meant to scare off evil spirits.
Caesareans are looked down upon
In many Congolese tribes, having a caesarean is seen as a failure on the woman’s part. Many Congolese women do deliver babies in a hospital, but often opt out of cesareans.
The name is the identity
In some Congolese tribes, a baby is not viewed as a whole person until he or she is named. A popular naming method includes a Christian first name followed by two Congolese traditional names.
The mother’s side chooses the name
Often in Congolese tribes, either the mother, or the mother’s sister or brother chooses the baby’s name.
Birth as a strength builder
Among the !Kung — a small nomadic group that lives in Botswana, Namibia and Angola — women are not supposed to seek any sort of pain relief during childbirth. They’re taught to endure the pain without showing fear. Many even give birth in a squatting position without assistance.
Moods transfer into birth
Among the San, it is believed that the thoughts, emotions and experiences a woman has during pregnancy will affect her experience in labor and the birth of her child. For this reason, pregnant women usually carry on their normal life and duties, with the belief this will render them strong and energized for labor.
Learning by observing
Among the San, young girls are encouraged to watch other women give birth so they conquer their fears around the experience. There is an unspoken understanding that the girls are not to speak of their fears about childbirth.
Burying the placenta
San women of Southern Africa often bite the umbilical cord and bury it before walking back into their village. The idea is that it is the mother’s duty to return the cord to Mother Nature.