The fattening room among the Annang of Nigeria

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Based on the authors interviewing field experience and research this article reveals the nature of the custom among virginal and unmarried adolescents or pre-pubescent girls of seclusion in the Fattening Room although others including wives and mothers may use it. This secular tradition followed for those able to afford it by the rural Annang designated girls as mbobo which means literally fattening room girl and is also practiced among the neighboring tribes of the various Ibo groups. Usually the room is in a private area with a bare bamboo bed away from men; there is a private toilet and bathing areas. Before entering a village the symbols of a miniature bamboo bed pots and birds nest are displayed to announce the presence of mbobo. During the period of confinement which varies in length from several day to years within different customs and families mbobo is fed much food to fatten her up and her days are spent learning how to please a husband and mother in law and to care for children to care for a clean house and to learn cooking skills. She learns rituals dances dress and make-up and herbal remedies for labor pain and to stimulate milk production. She is rubbed own with oil and camwood in order to create glistening skin and a beautiful body. Enhancing her physical beauty is the goal of all the indulgences. After leaving the room she parades and dances nude through town with musical bells around her waist hair beads bracelets on her ankles and painted circles on her body for all the village to admire but not to stare it. Twelve days later she and villagers dance together before she goes to her husband. Usually the mbobo come out seclusion in the surplus food seasons of June through August. Some form of female circumcision of the labia minora also takes place and scaring can be nonexistent or extensive. The reasons for the fattening room include the use as a survival strategy since pregnancy and lactation require considerable maternal nourishment from fat stores consequently protecting her the fetus or nurturing infant from famine or drought. Extra fatty tissue is also a requirement for menstruation. Another reason is an expression of beauty where fat is the equivalent of beauty and means she has enough to eat and doesnt have to work very hard. Mbobo also bring higher status to the household and bring a high bride price. Its also used as a role transition to motherhood and wifehood were new behavior is learned. The Annang use this custom as a sign of conspicuous consumption since weight must be cultivated through changing eating patterns. The staple diet of cassava and rice or yams and fish is supplemented with goat beef and port meat which is expensive. In her coming out the more lavish the display the higher the status. The custom separates the haves from the have nots.