My mom is a mother of four girls. She started the proud trips for the beautiful tradition called Omugwo in 2001 when my eldest sister had her first child, Suur.
Omugwo is an Igbo term for a tradition where a mother, a mother in-law or any close female relative or friend goes to give post-partum care to a new mother and the new born baby. Although this is of Igbo origin, many tribes in Nigeria have quietly adopted and begun to practice this tradition. Most mothers do this with so much pride, they prepare and plan and upon arrival, begin to do ALL the duties in the home while the new mother and baby rest.
Omugwu is not for the lazy or faint hearted. It is expected that whoever takes upon this responsibility is skilled and knowledgeable in the care and handling of new babies and the new mother.
My mother has eight grandchildren. She didn’t make it to all the Omugwu visits, but when she did, she really turned up. She is the kind of woman who gets everything around her done without lifting a finger. I don’t know how she does it, she just does.
One sure way she has always handled her Omugwo was financially. You could be sure that she was going to make sure everything needed was made available. All she needed was to overhear anyone talking about something that was lacking. She always started with; “How much is it?”
She has not had a chance to make any of those visits for almost a decade. Her last two grandkids will both be ten years old this year…but I know that if she were to ever make an Omugwo trip again, she would gladly turn up with all her support in her pocket.
