Indigenous Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices on Pregnancy and Childbirth Among the Ndau People of Zimbabwe

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ON PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH AMONG THE NDAU PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE ANNIEGRACE MAPANGISANA HLATYWAYO 207520221 Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics), in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. SUPERVISORS Professor Sarojini Nadar Professor Hassan O. Kaya Pietermaritzburg 2017 DECLARATION As required by University regulations, I hereby state unambiguously that this work has not been presented at any other University or any other institution of higher learning other than the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus), and that unless specifically indicated to the contrary within the text, it is my original work. ahlatywayo ____________________________________ Anniegrace Mapangisana Hlatywayo PhD Candidate As candidate supervisors, we hereby agree to the submission of this thesis _______________________________ ________________________________ Supervisor: Prof. Sarojini Nadar Co-Supervisor: Prof. Hassan O. Kaya i ABSTRACT Framed within a postcolonial indigenous research paradigm, the study used a phenomenological analysis drawing on the case study of the Ndau people of south-eastern Zimbabwe, to explore the contribution of African indigenous knowledge systems on pregnancy and childbirth. The study is based on the argument that currently the dominance of Western knowledge systems, including biomedicine, created a situation that even reproductive beliefs and practices in African local settings tend to be conceptualized from Western ways of knowing and value systems. Limited number of studies have focused on the socio-cultural context of pregnancy and childbirth. People live in diverse cultural and ecological settings which influence their knowledge systems including reproductive social and cultural practices. The case of the Ndau women of south-eastern Zimbabwe reflected the agency and centrality of African women in managing pregnancy and childbirth using their own community-based knowledge systems which are culturally and ecologically relevant, affordable and sustainable. The research study also advances the theoretical premise that while it is important to acknowledge the power relations in knowledge production and the centrality of African cultural interests in every social practice and analysis, as propagated by the advocates of Afrocentric paradigms including Postcolonial African feminism, it is crucial to recognise that we are living in a poly-epistemic world composed of different and diverse knowledge systems which are supposed to be complementary rather than competitive. As a contribution to knowledge production, the research brought a new approach to the analysis of the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the research participants. These have been investigated as statistical variables without looking at their socio-cultural significance to the research community in relation to the research problem. An analysis of the Indigenous Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices on Pregnancy and Childbirth among the Ndau People of Zimbabwe showed that socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the research participants such age groups, marital status, gender, etc. have community-based cultural meanings attached to them. ii Research findings also demonstrated the significance of understanding and appreciating the historical impact of colonialism on Ndau indigenous beliefs and practices on pregnancy and childbirth. This led to a critical analysis of Ndau cosmological belief systems before and after colonialism. This was important in creating the basis for re-covering, re-awakening, and re-claiming of Ndau indigenous knowledge, beliefs and practices on pregnancy and childbirth. The findings reflecting the continued use of indigenous modes of managing pregnancy and childbirth despite the medicalisation of antenatal care, demonstrates the need to create a dialogue between biomedical and indigenous models on managing pregnancy and childbirth. The research demonstrated that the preservation of IKS is critical as it ensures the prolongation of communities and their knowledge systems. The indigenous oral modes of preserving IKS for posterity have been affected by modernisation which is characterised by rural-urban migration and family disintegration resulting in loss of time and space for elders to pass family traditions to the younger generations. In view of such, documentation, archiving, use of information technology and establishment of indigenous knowledge centres (IKCs) were viewed as alternate methods of preserving IK for posterity. The study recommended more research to be done on indigenous pharmacopoeias, their perceived therapeutic properties and associated rituals on promoting safer health care models for managing pregnancy and childbirth. iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my loving parents, Aaron Tuyani Mapangisana and Ritah Mapangisana, who have always believed in me. The prayers you untiringly uttered on my behalf and the constant words of encouragement sustained me. Thank you mum and dad! And to my siblings, Gertrude Tendai, Rosemary, Daniel Farai and Norman Kudzai, whose love, support and encouragement gave me the strength to persevere during the course of the study. The dedication is also extended to all the Ndau women who still endeavour to keep the flame of their Ndau indigeneity alive! For indeed, a people without indigenous knowledge is like a tree without roots! iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am thankful to the Almighty God for the many blessings and the strength to persevere during the course of this study. The completion of this thesis involved many people to whom I am deeply indebted, but unable to state individually. I acknowledge the love and support of both family and friends. I am deeply thankful to the Ndau women of Chipinge, south-eastern Zimbabwe, who served as research participants, and whose knowledge and expertise of Ndau indigenous beliefs and practices shaped this thesis. A special thanks goes to my supervisors, Professor Sarojini Nadar and Professor Hassan Kaya whose critical insights and clear guidance helped in shaping the thesis. Kemist Shumba, thank you for proof-reading my work. I also express my gratitude to all the lecturers in the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics for shaping my academic journey. I also acknowledge Professor Beverley Gail Haddad, with whom I began the doctoral journey, though for a short period, and for igniting in me the interest in gender studies, thank you Prof. Bev! I am also deeply thankful to Professor Hassan Kaya for availing funding for the study through the NRF, without which this study would not have been a success. Thank you so much Prof. Kaya! I acknowledge the unwavering prayers, love and support of my family. Most especially my parents, Aaron Tuyani Mapangisana and Ritah Mapangisana as well as my siblings Gertude Tendai, Rosemary, Daniel Farai and Norman Kudzai Mapangisana and their families. My friend, my sister, Ronisa Nyamupfukudza, thank you for always being there for me. The whole extended Mapangisana family; I acknowledge your constant support and words of encouragement. My in- laws, the wider Hlatywayo family, thank you for your loving support and encouragement during the course of my studies. I am indeed thankful for the unwavering love and support of my wider circle of family and friends. Thank you all for believing in me; you are greatly loved and much adored. v Lastly, I would like to express my profound gratitude to my husband, Rev. Dr. Jairos Sukutai Dakarai (JSD) Hlatywayo for encouraging me to enroll at university. Yes, I might have obtained a university degree in another field, but without you I doubt I would have made it this far! Thank you for introducing me to this academic journey! I am truly thankful for your constant words of encouragement and unwavering financial and emotional support during the course of my studies. Ebenezer, we both made it this far! vi ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AIDS Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome AIKS African Indigenous Knowledge Systems ANC Antenatal Health Care ATR African Traditional Religion CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CODESRIA Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa DIL Daughter(s) in-Law FDGs Focus Group Discussion(s) HIV Human Immuno Virus IK Indigenous Knowledge IKCs Indigenous Knowledge Centres IKS Indigenous Knowledge Systems MIL Mother(s)-in-Law TBA Traditional Birth Attendant(s) UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .............................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................ii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ v ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS....................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ viii CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................. 1 Introducing the study ....................................................................................................

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