(Have a baby every lunar month).
mbgwende = a lunar month.
mwaana = a baby, a child.
nganga = a doctor, the doctor.
yowo = (i) A treatment by an ordained traditional doctor.
(ii) A fetish believed to assist somebody to achieve a desired goal, for instance, success in a contest, impede the success of an adversary or to destroy an adversary.
yowo ya mesuma = treatment by a traditional gynaecologist.
Yasi nanu: One of the citations made by traditional gynaecologists (Nganga ja yowo ya mesuma) in the process of ordaining medication for women who experience pregnancy difficulties or women who are already pregnant but experience problems is:
“mbgwende na mwaana” = Have a baby every lunar month.
Baffled by the citation Likowo who was consulting a gynaecologist for the first time during the period of her seven months pregnancy, questioned her mother, Iye Ejose:
“Iya !
Why is this gynaecologist wishing me to have a baby every lunar month ? He is unreasonable.
Responding Iye Ejose said:
“Likovo !
I am surprised and disappointed that you are not yet able to understand and appreciate the Mokpwe language in all its splendour. The phrase “mbgwende na mwaana” (that is, have a baby every lunar month) is used figuratively (a) to ask the Creator to bestow on a woman of child bearing age as many pregnancies/babies/children as she desires or (b) to implore the Almighty God for quick and unimpeded success”.
Oma Nanu
Imba Thomas Mbua Ndoko
Dallas Texas, USA
Comments