Bola Ray Interviews Shea Butter Museum Founder Hamamat Montia on Heritage, Healing and African Midwifery

Renowned Ghanaian broadcaster Bola Ray has sat one-on-one with Hamamat Montia, founder of the Shea Butter Museum, in a deeply cultural and revealing interview that traced ancestry, African knowledge systems and the medicinal roots of shea butter. Hamamat revealed that her inspiration came directly from her grandmother, a traditional herbalist, whose life’s work pushed her to carry the baton and preserve indigenous African practices through the Shea Butter Museum.

According to Hamamat, her journey is not accidental but rather a fulfilment of duty within her family lineage. She explained that her work represents generational continuity, adding that she is grateful for the impact she has made so far and remains hopeful for even greater contributions in the future. Her passion for African heritage is also reflected in her advocacy for body confidence and natural beauty, themes she has openly discussed in the past, including her viral stance on natural breasts as documented by GhanaMedia.net here.

On a more serious historical note, Hamamat disclosed that shea butter was originally developed by African midwives, possibly from ancient Ghanaian communities, during early centuries to assist women during childbirth. She explained that the natural oils helped reduce friction and supported smoother deliveries, a practice that predates modern obstetrics and aligns with documented African traditional medicine systems recognised by institutions like Encyclopaedia Britannica and UNESCO.

Beyond maternal health, Hamamat highlighted shea butter’s lesser-known internal healing properties, noting that it can help treat stomach ulcers by forming a protective layer that prevents sores from spreading along the stomach lining. This explanation aligns with broader research into plant-based protective compounds acknowledged in global health discussions by bodies such as the World Health Organization and medical science platforms like PubMed Central.

The interview reinforced the growing global appreciation of African-origin products, particularly shea butter, which is now widely used in dermatology and wellness, as noted by National Geographic and Mayo Clinic. Hamamat Montia’s work through the Shea Butter Museum continues to position Ghana as a historical and cultural authority in natural healing and ancestral knowledge.

As shared with Bola Ray, Hamamat believes Africa’s future lies in reclaiming and properly documenting its past, ensuring that traditional wisdom is preserved, respected and passed on to generations yet unborn.

Hamamat happen to have lived in the dane neighbourhood (Tantra-Hills) with Daniel Jeddman who happens to be the writer of this article.