04/10/2026
This week, Focus on Africa: The Conversation explores the cultural significance of the placenta on the continent and asks why some mothers are choosing to consume it.
An in-depth weekly conversation focusing on a topical issue in Africa. In this episode, Focus on Africa: The Conversation examines the placenta, an organ revered in many African cultures but increasingly marketed as a wellness product around the world.
Hosted by Nkechi Ogbonna, the episode features maternal health advocate Ruth Sally Kodam and placenta encapsulation specialist Mary-Nissi Lemon. They discuss the cultural significance of the placenta in African communities and the growing global trend of placenta consumption, popularised by social media influencers who claim it offers benefits like improved recovery after childbirth and anti-ageing effects. Medical experts warn that there is little scientific evidence to support these claims and that the practice may carry health risks.