The Boundaries Between Men and Women
Most women led lives of constant painful labor even when they were pregnant. Though women were workers, not able to have a say in the way the community was run, women were also revered for their fertility and praised for their ability to produce children. The ability to procreate is highly important in African cultures. Often fertility statues and religious ceremonies focused on a couples ability to conceive. Any man without a child would see a break in his ancestral family worship, and on his death there would be no one to watch over the performance of rites which would allow his soul to move on to the spirit world.[1]
With this focus on a woman's fertility, comes the reverence of the mother. Often times in African cultures mothers are honored and held of high esteem for their contribution to society.
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With this focus on a woman's fertility, comes the reverence of the mother. Often times in African cultures mothers are honored and held of high esteem for their contribution to society.
Click images to learn more.
_[1] Laure Meyer, Black Africa (Paris, France: Terrail/Edigroup, 2007) p. 202.