Ghanaian writer explores lost sexual traditions in new book

Five years after her groundbreaking exploration of contemporary African women's sexuality, Ghanaian writer Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah returns with a provocative new book, Seeking Sexual Freedom: African Rites, Rituals and Sankofa in the Bedroom. Sekyiamah delves into forgotten customs and pre-colonial practices across the continent, challenging modern narratives around sex and pleasure.

Rediscovering ancient practices

Sekyiamah's work isn't a simple recounting of historical facts; it's an investigation into the lives of women, a quest to understand how ancient rites of passage shaped sexual understanding and experience. Her previous book, The Sex Lives of African Women, garnered attention for its unflinching portrayal of modern sexual practices in Ghana. This new book expands that scope, looking backward to uncover what the author sees as lost knowledge.

“I really love the idea of a sex auntie,” Sekyiamah said, referring to the ssenga in Uganda, a figure entrusted with educating young women about sex. This contrasts sharply with the often-silent approach to sexuality prevalent in many diaspora communities.

One particularly striking practice Sekyiamah details is “pulling,” a tradition among the Baganda people where young girls pull on their labia to increase sensitivity. The practice, often initiated by ssengas and peers, aims to prepare girls for sexual intimacy. Sekyiamah emphasizes that this isn't simply about primitive customs; it's about fostering familiarity and pleasure with one's own body, a knowledge often absent in modern society. “How many of us, even now, know what our own genitalia look like? We don’t ever look.”

The concept of Sankofa, a Ghanaian term meaning “go back and fetch,” is central to the book. Sekyiamah argues that revisiting these historical practices isn't about romanticizing the past, but about reclaiming elements of sexual openness and self-awareness that have been eroded by modernity and religious influence. She highlights the diversity of African cultures, pushing back against the narrow association of the continent with solely female genital mutilation.

The book offers intimate accounts of women who have cultivated healthy relationships with their bodies and sexuality through guidance from older female figures and early education. Sekyiamah's work is a passionate plea for a different approach—one that prioritizes joy and pleasure. “We are not starting from nowhere – we are starting from a base.”

Seeking Sexual Freedom: African Rites, Rituals and Sankofa in the Bedroom, by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, is published in the UK by Dialogue Books on 12 March and in the US by Atria Books on 5 March.

Sekyiamah’s research underscores a critical point: the absence of open, age-appropriate conversations about sexuality leaves a void filled with misinformation and shame. Her book isn’t just a historical exploration; it’s a potent argument for reclaiming agency over one's own body and sexual well-being.