Hannah’s stigmatisation in 1 Samuel 1:6-8 in the modern Nigerian (Yoruba) context

• Published in: Hervormde teologiese studies Vol. 80; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Author: Ademiluka, Solomon O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Afrikaans; English
• Published: Pretoria African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS 2024; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd; University of Pretoria; AOSIS
• Subjects: Bible and literature; Bible as literature; child-free life; Childlessness; childlessness in nigeria; Children & youth; church in nigeria; hannah’s barrenness; Infertility; Narratives; Oral tradition; pronatalist societies; Religion; Social aspects; Stigma; Women; Women in Christianity; Women, Christian; Nigeria; United Kingdom; Sub-Saharan Africa; childlessness; church in Nigeria; childlessness in Nigeria; Hannah's barrenness; pronatalist societies; child-free life
• ISSN: 0259-9422; 2072-8050; 2072-8050
• DOI: 10.4102/hts.v80i1.9810

Unlike Hannah, who eventually had a child, there are women today who remain childless. In the modern world, there are various reasons why women choose not to have children. Therefore, when interpreting the Hannah narrative in modern times, it is important to consider these evolving aspects of barrenness. This article applies historical-critical exegesis, narrative reading and a descriptive approach to examine Hannah’s experience in the Nigerian context. It also evaluates African traditional beliefs on childlessness in light of modern realities. The study reveals that many women in pronatalist societies worldwide now choose to be child-free because of reasons such as difficulty finding marriage partners or financial instability. As these factors are also present in Nigeria, childless Nigerian women should embrace their situation and find happiness instead of succumbing to stigmatisation. To support these Christian women, the church in Nigeria must accept and teach the truth that not every woman needs to bear children.Contribution: This article contributes to the discussion on Christian attitudes towards childlessness. It argues that the interpretation of Hannah’s infertility in today’s world should consider new circumstances, such as voluntary childlessness. In light of this argument, Nigerian women without children should embrace their situation and find happiness instead of succumbing to societal stigma.