A new book, “Birth Politics: Colonial Power, Medical Pluralism, and Maternity in Nigeria,” by Associate Professor Ogechukwu Ezekwem Williams, offers a powerful reexamination of childbirth practices in Nigeria. Set for release on August 19, 2025, by Johns Hopkins University Press, the book unpacks how colonialism, faith, medicine, and gender politics have long intersected to shape maternal healthcare in the country.
Williams, a historian of medicine at the University at Buffalo, draws from her experience, including work with Nigeria’s National Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Scheme, to illuminate how traditional midwives, biomedical practitioners, and faith-based birth attendants have competed and collaborated over decades. Her research provides a fresh lens on Nigeria’s complex birthing traditions, arguing for the relevance of medical pluralism in confronting today’s maternal health inequities.
The book reveals childbirth as a historical battleground involving colonial powers, missionary nurses, Aladura faith leaders, and local healers, all vying for authority and legitimacy in reproductive healthcare. In particular, “Birth Politics” breaks new ground by highlighting the often-overlooked role of faith-based maternity homes and their entanglements with both colonial and indigenous medical systems.
Historians and scholars have praised the work. Saheed Aderinto, author of When Sex Threatened the State, describes it as “a landmark contribution,” while Adrienne E. Strong, author of Documenting Death, commends the book for its nuanced analysis of faith healing and maternal care.
“Birth Politics” is available in paperback for $64.95 (ISBN: 9781421452760) and as an ebook.
