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I chose to study and write about the Beng people of West Africa. "The Beng (pronounced beng), also known as the Gan or Ngan, are a people group of Cote d’Ivoire" (International Mission Board, 2012). The reason I decided to study and write about the Beng's birthing practices is because of a previous study I had done years ago about the Beng culture. I studied them originally in an infant/toddler class and had to do a report on them. This was so fascinating to me that I decided to find more information on their childbirth practices and share it with you here. 

In Alma Gottlieb's book Under the kapok tree: identity and difference in Beng thought, Alma talks about the different cultural aspects and taboo's that are common in the Beng culture. The Beng culture puts a large emphasis on the superstitions that happen in the forest. They believe it is taboo if a woman is eating while pregnant and walking through the forest and drops crumbs on the ground. They believe if this happens, the child will be born a snake. Therefore, during childbirth "it is taboo for a Beng woman to deliver a child in the forest at large and in the agricultural fields in particular" (Gottlieb, 1997). If a Beng woman is having contractions, she must find her way into the village in order that the child will not be born a snake.

These obvious differences between the United States and the Beng people are astounding. I would never conceive of giving birth to a child in a village or in a forest. Nor do I believe that if I drop crumbs on sacred ground that my child will be born a snake. I will however comment that when I was pregnant with my son I remember having vividly wild dreams about him being an alien. But I hear that is normal during pregnancy because of our hormones being out of whack. But I never actually believed I was going to give birth to an alien!

I respect the Beng culture and their beliefs, but I do not believe that they are an educated people. I feel that superstitions and taboos are something that we make up in our minds to justify what is happening. But justifying things to reason without actual knowledge of truth will only lead to misconceptions and more ignorance. Which, to me, is not what child development is all about. I feel that the more we understand the more capable we are of taking care of our young ones. 

Thanks,

Cortnee :)

References:

Gottlieb, A. (1997). Under the kapok tree, identity and difference in beng thought. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press. Retrieved on January 7, 2012, from

http://books.google.com/books?id=cL23oNvqiXkC&pg=PA83&dq=beng birthing practices&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sdUIT7mdGsehiAKdptmaDw&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBQ 

International Mission Board. (2012). People groups. Retrieved on January 7, 2012, from http://www.imb.org/main/pray/searchby/PeopleGroupResults.asp?Hitdate2=Currentdatetime()&PrayerCode=NHB00&Age=90&submit12=Find Prayer Items