The custom of an African bride using her teeth to cook 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.
According to a Twitter user named @DonCorleANN, this practice is performed by the bride as she enters into marriage.
Photographs circulating on the internet depict a woman dressed in a white top and an Ankara skirt, skillfully holding a cup and a large pot using her teeth while simultaneously mixing the contents of the pot.
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.
The tweet read:
“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”.
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