Helpful or Harmful Traditional Practice? Parents Allegedly Bury Son’s Legs Up To His Waist To Enable Him Walk
by Jumoke Simi
December 12, 2016
The picture of a little boy buried partly buried in the earth from feet to waist is making its rounds on the internet. The photo published by a Facebook user, Jeph Toochukwu Ezeokoli, was captioned:
“Just saw this around my neighborhood, a child got his legs buried for his inability to walk as at when due. Is this practice not barbaric and brutal?”
This photo brings a few questions to mind. Is this practice harmful? Will it achieve it’s aim of helping the little boy catch up with his delayed milestones? Is this practise proven to be successful?
While some traditional practises like Female Genital Mutilation and child marriage are clearly classified as harmful, we have to acknowledge that not all traditional practices are harmful.
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The act, which reportedly took place in Markurdi, Benue state, has been condemned and described as superstitious and barbaric.
However, some people noted that what the parents did was an effective method to make children experiencing developmental delays take their first step.
Photo credit: Facebook
It works,it has nothing to do with tradition,lemme say its a traditional way of physciotherapy,it straightens the leg,it fastens the walk. Parents from diff states do it
Very barbaric. Where do people get all these ideas from? Smh. Traditional practice my cute ass.
its not harmful but it is traditional…..
I think its helpful from my assessments
Even though it’s still practiced in my state, I don’t believe it helps a child to walk. That child will still walk at his/her appointed time. For me it’s a mere superstitious belief
dont think i like d idea
This is barbaric, who told them it helps the child in any way?