The African custom of a bride cooking with her teeth on her wedding day has drawn a lot of attention.
This specific custom is practiced by members of the Bemba culture, which is largely present on Zambia’s northeastern plateau as well as in some regions of the Congo (Kinshasa) and Zimbabwe.
A person using the handle @DonCorleANN on Twitter claims that the bride engages in this custom before entering into marriage.
Internet images show a woman mixing the contents of a huge pot while deftly holding a cup in one hand and a large pot in the other. She is wearing a white blouse and an Ankara skirt.
When questioned about the significance of this tradition, @DonCorleANN clarified that it serves to demonstrate the woman’s ability to cook and care for her husband, even in the absence of her limbs. She acknowledged that this practice can be viewed as misogynistic
“This is a Bemba wedding tradition, it’s used to prove that should the woman lose her limbs she can still be able to cook and take care of her husband. And yes it is a misogynistic practice,”
she wrote.
This is a Bemba wedding tradition, it’s used to prove that should the woman lose her limbs she can still be able to cook and take care of her husband.
And yes it is a misogynistic practice. https://t.co/OQo5Wb0khb
— Feminist Witch 🇵🇸🇵🇸 🌙 (@DonCorleANN) June 27, 2023