CHANGES IN BIRTH RITE AS A FUNCTION OF NSO PEOPLE’S ACCULTURATION PROCESS, NORTH WESR REGION OF CAMEROON

Abstract

Today, modernization and globalization has brought about acculturation in the African context and the Nso culture is not left out. Despite all this changes, limited information has been made known in the literature review about the actual cultural practices in Nso and changes that have taken place. On this note, our study aimed at examining changes in birth rites of passage as a function of Nso people’s acculturation process. Specifically, we examine the deviations in pregnancy cultural practices of childbirth, variations in announcing childbirth, changes in purification childbirth rituals; and changes in initiation rites of childbirth. The ethnography research design was used and data collected from 30 Nso people made up of elders / title holders, and Nso migrants to other towns of Bamenda, Buea, Douala, and Bafousam. These Nso migrants were targeted from the respective Nso cultural associations. Data were collected using interview guide and focus group discussion and analysed thematically. Findings showed significant changes in Nso birth rites.

Regarding changes in pregnancy cultural practices, pregnant women in Nso now attend all kind of gatherings that was restricted before. More so, announcing arrival of babies is now done via telephone call and face-to-face discussion unlike before that few people from the husband family will visit the bride parents with palm wine, red palm oil, and bag of salt to tell them that their daughter has put to birth. More so, the special kind of songs that were sung by married women who had their first child is no longer common these days. Regarding purification rituals after childbirth, newborn are now carried by non-parents even when the umbilical cord has not fallen off, umbilical cord is now abandoned at the hospital, majority of women now bath themselves, cook and do laundering after childbirth, and no purification done in cases where a child died to prevent further death. Finally, for initiation birth rites, child circumcision is that is now done at the hospital unlike before that was done in traditional setting by traditional specialist and baptism done by Reverend Fathers in Christian way unlike the traditional approach. Based on this, it was recommended that Nso people should document and preserve their traditional rites of passage, including the symbolic meanings and cultural significance associated with these rituals. This can help maintain cultural heritage and promote intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge.