Postpartum parties in Abidjan

The FameWorks were in Côte d’Ivoire last week, researching the perspectives of middle-class urban women. In one of our group discussions, first one, and then another mentioned that they had newborns at home.  The obvious response to come from an empathetic Western researcher is: I’m glad you could get a little break to join in our group today!

In Côte d’Ivoire, we soon learnt, this doesn’t make too much sense.  For in this culture, the arrival of a newborn involves everyone coming round to help.  Of course you can get away.    Sisters, mums, aunties, mother-in-laws, grandparents, neighbours.  Everyone.  Whilst of course mum breastfeeds, otherwise, she can get on with other aspects of her life – be it her day job, her side hustle (most urban African women seems to have one), or her church choir practise (and that’s another source of support.)

An image from the truly marvellous graphic novel series, Aya de Yopougon, required reading for anyone visiting Côte d’Ivoire

Now, whilst a mother-in-law’s presence and “advice” can be onerous in any culture, at least she’s just one of several other women who turn up in solidarity.  And so a Côte d’Ivoirian’s earliest experiences of life will be of being part of a community of support.  If it’s true, as some psychologist’s reckon, that our outlooks as adults are most influenced by our experiences in the first three months of our lives, the implications here are rather profound.

To our knowledge, there’s no Mumsnet in Côte d’Ivoire. But who’d need it when the emotional and practical support is sitting in your living room?