The ancestral midwifery “Negra” as a bridge of connection between our ancestral traditions.

Abstract

This article explores black ancestral midwifery as a traditional practice that connects black communities with their ancestral roots. It highlights the role of midwives as guardians of knowledge passed down from generation to generation, focusing on the care of women before, during and after childbirth. These practices not only preserve knowledge about the body and the use of medicinal herbs, but also symbolize a deep connection with nature and ancestors. A political ecology approach is used to analyze how midwifery, by combining ancestral knowledge and the natural environment, contributes to cultural preservation, body care and sustainability of black communities in the Colombian Pacific. In addition, it addresses the institutional recognition of midwifery as intangible cultural heritage, an important achievement in the fight against the stigmas that have affected this tradition.