The fattening room is a practice in
Nigeria
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
whereby women or
adolescent
Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated w ...
girls are kept away from their companions, societal interactions and also from performing their customary duties.
This period may range from three months to seven years depending on the wealth of their father.
Background
The purpose of the fattening room is to groom and raise girls or intended brides according to the traditional norms of the people. This is to enable them in taking care of their prospective husbands and their future homes. A fattening room is like a traditional school where the lady or bride is groomed into a good mother, a wife, with an overall good character, that will be attractive to men.
Another perspective argues that the main purpose of the fattening room is used to create plump women. This is because the society that practice it believe that surplus flesh ensures greater chances of fertility and a healthy baby.
For this reason the maidens are fed on a variety of food and are taught new rituals and skills. The fattening room is also used as a retreat prior to a major social change in a person's life.
Modern views
The practice of fattening room is dominantly practiced in South Eastern part of Nigeria, especially among the
Efiks. This cultural practice is gradually waning down, though not entirely. However, it has become part of the tourist attractions among the Efiks.
Younger generations are resisting the fattening room culture due to some practices like
female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) (also known as female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and female circumcision) is the cutting or removal of some or all of the vulva for non-medical reasons. Prevalence of female ge ...
, overfeeding the bride, and the length of time it takes to be in the fattening room. More so, this practice has been criticized to be associated with rituals that are not acceptable by Christians.
See also
*
Anaang people
Anaang (also spelled Annang and Ànnang) is an ethnic group in Southern Nigeria, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk ...
*
Leblouh
''Leblouh'' () is the practice of force-feeding girls from as young as five to nineteen, in countries where obesity was traditionally regarded as desirable. Especially prevalent in rural areas and having its roots in Tuareg tradition, ''leblouh'' ...
References
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Culture of Nigeria
Obesity
Marriage in Africa
Fat fetishism