‘I Nearly Died’: The Hidden Taba Use Among Gambian Women

On a humid March afternoon in the outskirts of Banjul, a woman known as Saf* carries a basket of plants from her garden. She moves quickly, avoiding curious eyes, as she heads to a hidden location. The air is thick with the earthy smell of unprocessed tobacco leaves, waiting to be turned into taba, a popular local drug.

Suddenly, her phone rings. It’s a customer. She smiles. “She’s one of my favourites because she keeps coming back,” says Saf, whose name means “sweet” in Wolof.

At 68 years old, Saf has been secretly selling taba for decades. Taba, a Mandinka word for powdered tobacco, has been used in The Gambia for generations through smoking, snuffing, and chewing. But recently, it has been modified with other substances for new purposes.

Sellers like Saf mix regular taba with strong chemicals to increase its effect. Many women then use it intravaginally, believing it enhances sexual pleasure. Some traditional healers also claim it has medicinal benefits, such as treating infections, headaches, epilepsy, and infertility. However, these claims are not medically proven.

Though taba is legal, health experts in The Gambia warn of its dangers. Still, many women continue to use it.

Fatmata*, 36, believes “taba works wonders.” Her husband left for Europe seven years ago, and a friend introduced her to taba. “I don’t want extra-marital affairs for religious reasons, so I use taba,” she explains.

However, not all experiences are positive. Rose*, 28, tried it after a friend’s suggestion. The first time, she felt dizzy and nauseous. The third time, she nearly lost her life. “It felt like fire burning inside me. I could barely breathe and thought I was going to die.” After her painful ordeal, she vowed never to use it again. “It is dangerous. Women need to stop using it before it’s too late.”

Taraba*, 28, and Isatu*, 42, used taba for health reasons but suffered severe consequences. “Taba damaged my system,” says Taraba, who first tried it to cure gonorrhoea. Later, she used it for pleasure, which she calls “the worst mistake of my life.” The pain was unbearable, lasting a week.

Isatu first used it after hearing that it cured headaches. Instead, she bled profusely and almost died. Neither of them sought medical help, fearing exposure. Meanwhile, Fatmata insists that she has faced no health issues and that most women use it without complaints.

Saf supports this claim, saying that many of her customers have been buying from her for years. “If it was harmful, they wouldn’t keep coming back.”

According to the journal Tobacco Control, little is known about the effects of intravaginal taba. However, it is “likely to have negative health effects” like other smokeless tobacco products. Dr. Karamo Suwareh, a gynaecologist at Kanifing General Hospital, warns that taba causes irritation, infections, foul-smelling discharge, and bleeding during intercourse. He adds that it contains carcinogens and may increase risks of cervical and vaginal cancer, premature labour, and stillbirth.

The Gambian Ministry of Health has warned women against using taba, stating it could increase cancer risk and cause childbirth complications. Social media campaigns and videos featuring Minister of Health Lamin Samateh have raised awareness about its dangers.

Women’s rights organisations are also speaking out. Sariba Badjie, from The Girls’ Agenda, says, “No woman should feel pressured into harmful practices like taba.” Human rights activist Mbassey Manneh acknowledges its deep roots in Gambian culture. “At social events, women sell taba among themselves. Many turn to it because they are not satisfied in their marriages.”

Taba is sold secretly in markets and by trusted sellers like Saf, who operates near farmland. “My family isn’t against me selling it, but they don’t want me to do it publicly,” she says. Wrapped in paper or plastic, taba costs between 5 to 500 dalasi. Saf sources raw tobacco from Guinea-Bissau, adding her own mix of ingredients. “It’s a secret recipe,” she says, refusing to disclose its contents.

A 2023 study in the Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that 63.2% of Gambian women sampled were using intravaginal taba. Women over 40 were more likely to use it, and rural women were twice as likely to use it as those in urban areas.

Dr. Mustapha Bittaye, head of Gambia’s only teaching hospital, says research on taba’s health effects is limited. “We lack sufficient evidence, but we need to conduct a thorough study.”

Though general tobacco use is regulated in The Gambia, taba remains unregulated. Dr. Bittaye suggests using the Tobacco Control Act to regulate its sale while educating women on its risks.

Despite concerns, demand for taba remains high. “I make a lot of money from selling taba,” says Saf. If the government bans it, she is confident sellers will find new ways to continue their trade. “Women need it. They’ll always find a way to come to us, and we’ll always find a way to help them.”

Source: Aljazeera