African Women, Religion, and Health

Abstract

The cabinet drawer was stuck, and for all her violent shak- ing, pulling and straining, Mercy could not release the stuck drawer. So in sheer exasperation she did the next best thing and headed for the hammer and axe. Filled with determi- nation, she was ready to shatter the drawer, when her helper intervened with the Ga words, malaka-le. The words malaka- Je can be translated to mean “coaxing” or almost “encour- aging through gentle tapping.”’ So Richard, the helper, began to gently tap, first to the right, then to the left and as he began an almost rhythm of tapping, the drawer gave way, and opened much to Mercy’s relief.