Black Women : Does size matter in Africa?

panafrica

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Aug 24, 2002
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The Diaspora
After much of the holiday merry- making and eating, some people are sure to make losing weight and going to the gym a New Year resolution, but should size matter? In some African cultures, being fat is a symbol of good life and wealth. In parts of Mauritania and Nigeria, girls and soon-to-be-brides are force-fed to make them plump and attractive.

Increasingly, there is pressure on women and young girls to look as thin as fashion models, even if their men say they prefer fleshier women.

What is your experience? Are you under pressure to slim down? Men, do you feel comfortable with a beer belly? Ladies, what is your ideal weight? How far would you go to reach your dream size?

Your comments :

Being a native of Zimbabwe I can assure you that being chubby is a sure sign of health and wealth in Zimbabwe. With the AIDS epidemic sweeping the country, being chubby is a clear sign that perhaps one is not suffering from the dreaded disease.

Dave, Sydney, Australia


My girlfriend went back to South Africa after a stint in the UK during which she put on a couple of kilos. When one of her African friends saw her she said "you look so beautiful!" Big is definitely beautiful in Africa!

Gareth, Australia


Most African men do prefer plump and "fat" women. We should be more concerned about the health risks that come with excessive weight.

Ed, Augusta, USA

Of course size matters! I like the form and beauty of an African woman - shapely behind, plum face, thick legs to better shake to that ndombolo. But there can be extremes. Obesity is dangerous for anyone's health. As the old ways change with less walking, more sitting, everyone should be encouraged to exercise!

Bob, Chemilil, Kenya


Where are the breasts for feeding babies? Where are the legs like a beer bottle? Where are the protruding buttocks?

Muhoza Chiza, Mwanza, Tanzania


There is a popular saying that one man's meat, is another man's poison. We all have our views, perception and choice when it comes to size. Being fat has a lot of health implications such as heart disease and diabetes. I am currently doing everything possible to get rid of my beer belly even though I don't drink beer. It is not easy carrying all that weight around. I will not date nor marry a fat woman.

Omorodion Osula, Boston, USA


In Africa generally and in Tanzania particularly, size is very, very important especially for ladies to be viewed as beautiful. One can't see how men tolerate being told that the Miss World Africa from Tanzania is beautiful! Yes, her face is worthy of a woman, but where are the "chakula cha mtoto" - breasts for feeding babies? Where are the "mguu wa bia" - legs like a beer bottle? Where are the "makalio ya haja" - protruding buttocks?

Muhoza Chiza, Mwanza, Tanzania


As I was growing up, I did not come across a situation where anybody was under pressure to trim the extra "mafuta". Things have changed though. I took a trip to Nairobi within the last year. On arrival, I was greeted by jovial faces that turned to dismay and shock about my weight. I am 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. The first question that greeted me was, "Ai! And you are fat, eh?"

Mwiwa, Ottawa, Canada


When my wife gave birth to my son one year ago, I saw her weight increasing because of breast feeding and eating lots of porridge. I didn't like it that way. After one year she is again beautiful, thinner and well-shaped. That is a modern man's interest in Ethiopia.
Yihunew Tebelu, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia


I like to be with thin girls. They look very beautiful and pretty. But the most important thing is not beauty. If I have to choose between a fat woman who has good character and a thin woman with bad behaviour, I won't hesitate to choose the beer belly woman.

Ngomdum Marcel, Douala, Cameroon


I'm all too aware about the new weight -conscious trend in Africa. I'm 5 foot 8 inches and have always weighed in the 50kgs range. Back home I did get a few compliments, but there was a lot more name-calling especially as I grew older and failed to fit the African image of a real woman. Fortunately I don't have a flat chest or life would have been intolerable. That said, I still feel unacceptable as an African woman in this regard.

Seun, Scotland


In the past, it was considered the norm for a woman to be fat. But in today's world, most women are striving to become "lepa shandi" (skinny). But it is still okay for a man to be all round and pot- bellied. In fact a skinny husband is a reproach to his wife.

Terry, Lagos, Nigeria


In my village in Cameroon, we have a highly- respected traditional dance in which men take part wearing only a traditional loin cloth. A fleshy body with a beer belly is seen in such circles as a sign of wealth. The skinny men are considered inferior. In my generation however, the reverse is true. But the pressure to slim down is not as much as it is in the western world.
Giles KK, Umea, Sweden.


For a woman, I think the husband's opinion matters. Old school teaches us that whatever your husband wants you should try and adjust, as there are some women out there, who are ready to go all the way to look good to lure the men.

Dorcas Akintunde, Ibadan, Nigeria


Increasingly, especially in urban centres, being seen at a social function with a model-size woman is what a number of men want. I know of many men who have paid for their wives to attend gym sessions on a regular basis. The pressure is equally on men who are joining health clubs and taking on sports to lose weight.

Michael Okumu, Kampala, Uganda


Size does not define a person, but society is still vain and wants all of us to fit a certain size or look. To be thin does not mean anything if your inside is hollow. We should all create a realistic weight for our selves and stop trying to imitate Hollywood.

Beth, Houston, USA


I was very slim in high school and people called me all kinds of names that made me avoid being seen in public. I ate everything to add weight in vain. I went as far as looking for a miracle pill till the doctor assured me that nothing was wrong with me. I later gained weight when I became pregnant, now I look good, feel good and control what I eat.

Chinwe Achebe, Nigeria


In my country, Liberia, big men are most respected. There is a common perception that size determines one's wealth and status in society. In fact, during the civil crisis it is alleged that many big bodied men and women were killed because the rebels wrongly assumed that they were the ones enjoying the country's wealth.

Isaac Yeah, Liberia


It all depends on the environment you live in. When I was in Africa weight was the least of my worries but, since moving to the USA losing weight is my everyday struggle

Anna, St Barbra,USA


Yes in Africa being "round" is seen as a sign of wealth and happiness and is especially expected of married women. It is taken as proof that one's husband is taking good care of them. I have been overweight for the last 20 years and am now trying to lose the excess fat. I believe being slimmer will improve my health, appearance and will make me happier.

Mamie Ondel, Glasgow, UK


Yes, size in Africa is a big matter, because for some African men a woman without a big backside is like food without salt. What I don't know is if they understand that being fat doesn't necessarily mean one is healthy.

Seikou, Heidelberg/Germany


In a free world, size, like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I was so slim before I had my third child that my peers, suggested I become a model. Unfortunately, I was already married. Now that I have four sons, my weight is average. It is good to look slim because modern dressing favours slender figures, but our African dresses look better on plump bodies. We cannot impose weight on anybody at this point in time, lets leave fashion models to retain their skeleton frames while the rest go along with their extra flesh. As for men, I do not like pot bellied men. I want my man to look good in those catalogue clothes.

Shuttie F.N. Libuta, Kitwe, Zambia


It's every man and woman's dream to look good. But, the hard economic times we live in cannot allow everyone to enrol in a gym. All some of us focus on is how to meet the basic necessities of life like food, shelter, clothing and education.

Geoffrey Omondi, Nairobi, Kenya


In some Ugandan communities where malnutrition is common and corruption is rampant, being fat with a pot-belly is a sign of wealth. What's more some rich politicians here have pot- bellies!

Robert Kakaire, Kampala, Uganda


My wife is a big beautiful Nubian queen. I prefer her any day to the media and fashion industry created ideal of a beautiful woman. Many African men regard and appreciate a plump, robust, and shapely female as a gracious gift from the holy hosts of heaven.

Anthony Okosun, Baltimore, USA.


Generally men in Africa seem to prefer plump women but there is a wind of change blowing and some men are now into more "portable" girls as they say. I however think we ought to be more concerned about the health risks that come with excessive weight gain or loss.
Catherine, Tanzania

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4566870.stm
 
I think it is interesting to compare how beauty is judge in our ancestral homeland with how it is compared here. What I find particularly interesting is that the article states that there is increasing “pressure” on women in Africa to be thin, even though the average man likes “fleshlier” women. If this pressure isn’t coming from men, where is it coming from? Could the same observation be made of sisters in the US?
 
It's not so much the "size" as it's the "shape" that gets my attention.


I can't speak about other cultures but I've ALWAYS liked thick women, even as a little kid.

Even before the big-booty was being promoted all over the radio and in rap music.

Even before puberty.

There was always something "inviting" about wide hips and a round bottom.

Funny you should mention African women.

Why...just the other day I was in a book store reading a woman from Nigeria walked pass me and had a butt so high and beautiful I literally saw stars.
Maybe it came from me jerking my neck around and looking back at her so quick, but I actually had to shake those little twinkles out my sight for a minute or two before my vision was normal.

Most West African women whether fat or skinny have nice high behinds and know how to sway them when they want to grab a man's attention.
 

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