Performer, Audience, and Performance Context of Bakweri Pregnancy Rituals and Incantations

By Babila Mutia (Cahiers d'études africaines, no. 177, 2005)

Abstract:
This article presents a comprehensive description of the four kinds of rituals that are performed on pregnant women among the Bakweri of South-western Cameroon. These pregnancy rituals are performed to avert abortions, premature deliveries, still births, and to ensure safe delivery. They are also intended to keep the pregnant woman healthy during her gestation period. The four rituals are performed by four separate nganga (traditional doctors). The implication here is that the pregnant woman moves from one herbalist to the other as her pregnancy progresses and need for each ritual arises. Of equal significance in this article is the consideration of the incantations that are chanted by each nganga and which complement each of the rituals as verbal art.

The incantations that accompany the rituals demonstrate the inter-relationship between ritual, performance, and orature. This relationship between performance and the spoken word demonstrates that African oral performance, at least in this instance of pregnancy rituals, does not exist in isolation, but is subordinated to and is an organic consequence of ritual performance. The indications are that Bakweri traditional doctors perform pregnancy rituals and incantations as part of Bakweri traditional religious and social obligations to supplicate the ancestors to guide and protect the expectant mother and to protect the baby when it is born.

* Prof. Mutia is the author of the groundbreaking article on Bakweri funeral songs, “Stylistic Patterns in Oral Literature: The Form and Structure of Bakweri Dirges”, which is also available on Bakwerirama.

Comments

[Rosemary Ekosso]

I have tried in vain to read the entire article, but when I click on the "continue reading" link, I do not make much headway. Is it my eternal ignorance getting in the way, or is there part of the document that is not available?

I wait with bated breath for when I shall be able to read this article.

[Mary Barnes Bruce]

Where are you, Babila Mutia?
Please be in touch.

[Lilian Ndangam]

How can I access this article? Look forward to reading it when it is available.

[Mola Mbonde]

This abstract was originally obtained from "cahiers d'etudes africaines. Unfortunately, the complete article is not found online. For more information, go to:
http://etudesafricaines.revues.org/document4942.html

[MokiMonono]

Dear Mola I want to read this article. Please can you send me yr e m ail adress?
Moki Monono

[Donna Simpson]

Dear Babila,
I am very happy to see that you are still enchanting your audiences with wonderful stories rich in culture and tradition as you did in Nova Scotia so many years ago. Fire side stories - what the ECK are you doing now Babila? So nice my friend found this site for me. I actually sent a letter to your parents place about a year ago. You spread light and laughter everywhere you go.