According to ancient documentation, these operations also had a significantly high success rate; both mother and child survived. This kingdom was known for its high success rate in complex procedures, which is a tribute to their exceptional medical knowledge. C sections were regarded as synonymous with death throughout this age. For instance, R.W. Felkin, a British traveler, saw Ugandans perform cesarean sections in 1879. Before the surgery, the healer cleaned his hands and the woman’s tummy with banana wine and semi-intoxicated her. To reduce bleeding, he made a midline incision and utilized cautery. He used massage to constrict the uterus but did not sew it up; instead, he used iron needles to pin the abdominal wound and covered it with a paste made from roots. The patient recovered well, and Felkin concluded that this technique was well-developed and had clearly been employed for a long time. Similar reports come from Rwanda, where botanical preparations were also used to anesthetize the patient and promote wound healing.
According to Felkin,
“The whole conduct of the operation suggested a skilled, long-practiced surgical team at work, conducting a well-trained and familiar operation with smooth efficiency.”
According to Mastura Wamara, a former nurse in Uganda,
“In those days, the Bunyoro of western Uganda fed pregnant women intensively in preparation for childbirth. Women in the community used to cook ground soup, beans and millet bread. They also used to steam sweet potatoes, cassava, green bananas and dark green vegetables. Mothers ate these before and after conception to reduce pregnancy related complications like anemia and malnutrition.”
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the site!
The Kebra Nagast (The Queen of Sheba & Her Only Son Menyelek ) in English :Written in Ethiopia during the 14th century, this sacred tale tells the ... Biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
$10.00 (as of January 2, 2026 17:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
I Didn't Do It for You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation – Italy, Britain, US, and Soviet Colonialism in Eritrea
$15.19 (as of January 2, 2026 17:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Facing Mount Kenya
$11.96 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter (Annotated)
$0.99 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Slow Poison: Idi Amin, Yoweri Museveni, and the Making of the Ugandan State
$17.88 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast
$21.25 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
A Training School for Elephants
$15.00 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
My Father, Maker of the Trees: How I Survived the Rwandan Genocide
$104.68 (as of January 2, 2026 17:49 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo
$8.99 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African Adventures
$6.39 (as of December 28, 2025 17:26 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the site!
The Zanzibar Chest
$12.85 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Chief of Station, Congo: Fighting the Cold War in a Hot Zone
$16.99 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Congo Mercenary
$26.21 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
To Catch a Dictator: The Pursuit and Trial of Hissène Habré
$15.04 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
$11.34 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Mirror to the Church: Resurrecting Faith after Genocide in Rwanda
$14.95 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle
$16.99 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
East Africa: An Introductory History
$22.82 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda
$25.91 (as of January 3, 2026 23:15 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)