An Analysis of the Birth Rite of the Argobba Ethnic Group

Abstract

This study has the main objective of analyzing the performance of the birth rite of the Argobba ethnic group. Secondary and primary data were collected to achieve the objective of the study. Secondary data was obtained by reading earlier written sources, and fieldwork was  conducted to obtain primary data. The methods of field data collection are observation, interview, and focus group discussion, and  informants were selected by purposive and snowball sampling methods. The collected data were analyzed using an ethnographic research model from a qualitative data analysis method. According to the findings of the study, the performance of the Argobba birth rite  can be divided into three stages. In the performance, oral traditions (prayers, Zəkiroč, supplications, expressions of good wishes),  material culture (traditional food and drink, clothing, birthing materials, placenta burial material), and social custom (beliefs, Ziyarawoč,  traditional medicine, naming, hairstyles, getting smocked Azəgaro and Wäyəba smokes) folklores have been found. Verbal (words of  prayer), material (porridge), and action (putting fingers around a plate, raising a plate, washing a calabash and putting it on a bed,  holding coffee and keeping it on a pan) symbols and their interpretations are presented. The rite has social, psychological, and  justification benefits. It would be good if modern medical institutions could adjust their delivery rooms according to the tradition if the  district health office conducts a study to determine whether or not pregnant food habits are depriving the pregnant of the nutrients they should be getting and if there are any health risks caused by certain performances (e.g., shaking, belly rubs) in terms of health.