Rituals and Embodied Cultural Practices at the Beginning of Life: African Perspectives

Abstract

Cultural beliefs and practices find expression through rituals. Rites of initiation or passage are some of the most common rituals among the indigenous African societies. Pregnancy and Childbirth are not only biological events, but also socially and culturally constructed with associated symbols that represent the social identities and cultural values of Africans. Birth is a rite of passage, and children are perceived as special gifts from the Supreme Being. As such, pregnancy and childbirth are special events cherished and celebrated through varied rituals. Drawing on empirical literature and relevant commentaries, this paper aims to discuss selected rituals and embodied practices surrounding the start of life (pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood). The paper will specifically focus on the following aspects: pregnancy rituals; birth songs and dancing; the omugwo (care after birth); the cord and placenta rituals; and the naming ceremony. Some of the pregnancy rituals are purificatory in nature and therefore beneficial for maternal and infant health. The celebrations surrounding the birth of a child are community events, marked with singing and dancing. Following childbirth, the new mothers are not expected to participate in house chores to allow them time to recuperate. In all, discourses concerning the beginning of life, i.e., pregnancy and the periods surrounding it, are filled with rituals which are embodiments or expressions of cultural values, customs, and beliefs.

Birth and Death: Studying Ritual, Embodied Practices and Spirituality at the Start and End of Life

“…Hennessey (2021), for example, draws attention to feminist thinkers who show that while pregnancy is a transition into a new state, birth is more of an intensification of the previous transition than a new transition of statuses. Akin to this, Ohaja and Anyim (2021) show that birth rites are not only expressions of collective joy for the newcomer but also a farewell for the mother. This becomes visible in the practice of burying the placenta and umbilical cord, which is performed with great care and attention for detail.…”

“…Fourth, some authors investigate ritual origins and the re-appreciation of traditional rituals, such as Hennessey (2021), Ohaja and Anyim (2021), and Janiak and Gierczyk (2021). Hennessey (2021) discusses the role of art and material culture in contemporary rituals of birth and studies the re-sacralization of material objects through art and birth practices in nonreligious contexts in the US.…”

“…The new, re-invented objects have origins in indigenous or traditional cultures and Hennessey (2021) asks to what extent the re-appreciation of existing cultural tools and objects reaches cultural appropriation. Ohaja and Anyim (2021) reflect on the ritual culture surrounding pregnancy and birth in various African contexts, such as Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. The authors discuss how the uniqueness of the newcomer is incorporated into the community, going beyond embodied persons, and is closely linked to ancestors.…”

Cultural aspects of wound care

“…Łożysko jest uznawane za część życia narodzonego dziecka. Po porodzie należy je zakopać, żeby osoby mające złe zamiary nie wykorzystały go do wyrządzenia krzywdy dziecku [31].…”

The role of patriarchy and its influences on domestic violence against females and children in Africa: An indigenous perspective

“…Locations for homebirths are also different. Some births take place in the house of the expectant mother, the expecting mother's maternal home or the traditional birth attendant's hut Ohaja & Anyim 2021). In Udhuk, Ethiopia, the birth takes place on a stone to symbolise the mother's hard work.…”