Ways of Being Born is a tribute to indigenous midwives who continue to uphold traditional birthing wisdom in the face of dehumanising medical institutions. Mmatshilo Motsei draws upon ancestral guidance, academic inquiry and her lived experience as a trained midwife and spiritual healer to contribute to the growing body of work that seeks to decolonise maternal health in South Africa. Ways of Being Born is both a searing indictment of obstetric violence in the nation’s hospitals and a platform for the voices actively countering cultural erasure and humanising a sacred life-giving ritual.

Join the author and colleagues Kai Njeri and Nonkululeko Mbuli in a topical discussion moderated by Motshedisi Silindane. They will explore the frontlines of maternal care, obstetric violence, capitalist healthcare systems and the cultural and spiritual significance of birth.

Mmatshilo Motsei is a healer, author and thought leader whose work bridges the worlds of African spirituality, academic research, health and healing. With a background in nursing, midwifery, psychology, creative writing and a PhD in Sociology, she brings a rare integration of clinical knowledge and Indigenous wisdom to issues affecting African people’s lives. Her decades-long commitment to social transformation has seen her work across government, academia and grassroots movements, always centring the lived experiences and ancestral knowledge of African women. As the founder of Afrika Ikalafe Pluriversity, she has developed an online learning platform that centres Indigenous knowledge and land-based healing.

Kai Njeri is a womb ecologist exploring the intersection of regenerative systems, maternal health and the ecology of human beginnings. Founder of Ma.Itū, she supports birth, mothers, birthworkers and food forests. She also serves as Programs Director, Africa for the Wombs of the World Foundation. Threaded through all her work is the simple conviction that how we welcome life shapes the future we grow.

Nonkululeko Mbuli is the Advocacy and Communications Strategist at Embrace the Movement for Mothers, with more than a decade of experience spanning the non-profit and private sectors. She is passionate about using storytelling to amplify marginalised voices and influence public policy.

Motshedisi Silindane is a social anthropologist, consciousness practitioner and healer who explores how culture, consciousness and human experience shape the way we live, lead and relate. Her work at Saffron Conscious facilitates conversations that restore connection, deepen understanding and awaken possibility. Her work is anchored in the profound questions: What have we forgotten, and what becomes possible when we remember?

Ways of Being Born Online Book Launch