In many African communities, there is no strict limit on the number of children a family may have. Many families have no fewer than four children because parents may want their first child to have siblings. However, Mariam Nabatanzi’s case is exceptional. She lives in Kasawo village, Mukono District, Uganda, and is known as “Mama Uganda,” or “the mother of many,” because she had 44 children by the age of 41.
Mariam was only 12 when she was married, or rather sold, to a 40-year-old husband, 28 years her senior. A year later she gave birth to twins. By 23, she had 25 children and begged doctors to help her stop having babies. She was told she had hyperovulation, a rare condition in which more than one egg is released during a cycle, increasing the chance of fraternal twins, triplets or more. The report says doctors advised her to keep getting pregnant because her ovary count was extremely high.
Her final pregnancy ended in tragedy: she gave birth to her sixth set of twins, but one baby died during labor. Soon afterwards her husband, who often left for weeks, abandoned the family for good. By 36, Mariam had given birth to 42 babies and had to raise them alone. At 41, she had five sets of quadruplets, four sets of triplets and six sets of twins.
Mariam says she has “grown up in tears” and spent her life looking after children and working to earn money. She later received medical help to stop more pregnancies. To support her family, she works as a hairdresser and event decorator, collects and sells scrap metal, brews local gin and makes herbal medicine. Most of her wages go to food, medical care, clothes and school fees. One child had to quit school to help the family. The 23-year-old says their mother is overwhelmed and carries the whole burden.
The family lives in crowded conditions: 12 children sleep on metal bunk beds with thin mattresses in one small room, others share mattresses on the floor, and some sleep on the ground because there is no space. Mariam’s main hope is that her children will be happy, although she says she herself has not had joy since childhood.
What is the main purpose of the report?
Why is Mariam known as “Mama Uganda”?
What does the speaker imply about Ugandan families?
How old was Mariam when she was married?
What is said about Mariam’s husband?
What medical condition did Mariam have?
What happens during hyperovulation?
Why did Mariam ask a doctor for help?
What tragedy happened during her final pregnancy?
What happened after the final pregnancy?
How does Mariam support her children?
Why did one child quit school?
What does “Mum is overwhelmed” mean?
What is suggested about the family’s living conditions?
What is Mariam’s main hope for her children?
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Incorrect Answers: 0
III. Speaking Discussion: Family, Population and Responsibility
Prepare answers. Use active vocabulary, idioms and grammar patterns where possible.
the ideal number of children — идеальное количество детей
to start/raise a family — создать/растить семью
to bring up children — воспитывать детей
to provide for one’s family — обеспечивать семью
to shoulder responsibility / carry the burden — нести ответственность/бремя
to make ends meet / live from hand to mouth — сводить концы с концами / жить впроголодь
to be stretched thin / overwhelmed — быть перегруженным
to take care of others — заботиться о других
less egoistic / more self-denying / stress-resistant / autonomous — менее эгоистичный / самоотверженный / стрессоустойчивый / самостоятельный
to lack smth / to miss out on smth — испытывать нехватку / упустить возможность
at the expense of smth — за счёт чего-либо
to sacrifice one’s education / drop out of school — пожертвовать образованием / бросить школу
to be deprived of childhood — быть лишённым детства
to have access to medical care / contraception — иметь доступ к медпомощи / контрацепции
to be forced into marriage — быть принуждённой к браку
to abandon / walk out on / turn one’s back on the family — бросить семью
to pay subsidies and benefits / provide housing — платить пособия / предоставить жильё
to encourage / restrict population growth — стимулировать / ограничивать рост населения
to respect reproductive rights — уважать репродуктивные права
to tackle overpopulation / population decline — решать проблему перенаселения / спада населения
to put pressure on resources / strain public services — давить на ресурсы / перегружать службы
Idioms and phrasal verbs
blood is thicker than water — семейные связи важны
the breadwinner — кормилец
to bring home the bacon — зарабатывать на семью
to have one’s hands full — иметь дел по горло
to stand by one’s family — поддерживать семью
to leave smb high and dry — бросить в беде
a deadbeat father — безответственный отец
a pillar of the family — опора семьи
a blessing in disguise / both a blessing and a burden — скрытое благо / и благо, и бремя
to step in / step up — вмешаться / взять ответственность
to get by / run out of money — справляться / остаться без денег
to put up with hardship — терпеть трудности
Grammar patterns
A modern woman should have as many children as she can emotionally and financially support.
Although a big family may teach responsibility, it can also deprive children of privacy and opportunities.
Had Mariam had access to proper medical advice earlier, her life might have been different.
It is essential that women should have access to contraception and healthcare.
No woman should be pressured into having children for political, racial or demographic reasons.
The more children a family has, the harder it may be to provide for everyone.
Population policy should be based on human rights rather than fear or discrimination.
How many children, do you think, should a modern woman have? Why? Think about the ideal number, money, career, health, emotional resources and freedom.
Should women be encouraged to have more children to sustain the population of a particular ethnic or cultural group? Why or why not? Discuss demographics and culture, but avoid racist arguments. Should women ever be treated as tools for solving population problems?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a big family? Use: at the expense of, take care of others, less egoistic, self-denying, stress-resistant, autonomous, lack, miss out on.
What do you think of Mariam? What do you feel towards her? Use: strong, exhausted, trapped, responsible, self-sacrificing, overwhelmed, heroic.
How would you help such a family? Think about food, housing, medicine, education, childcare, legal help and donations.
Whose fault is it that Mariam could not stop having children earlier? Think about early marriage, lack of healthcare, poverty, social norms and her husband’s behaviour.
Are twins a blessing or a curse? What about triplets or quadruplets? Use: a blessing in disguise, both a blessing and a burden, have one’s hands full.
How should the government help such families? Use: provide housing, pay subsidies and benefits, subsidise childcare, guarantee education.
What do you make of Mariam’s husband, who left her and the children? Informal: a jerk. Neutral: irresponsible, selfish, cruel, a deadbeat father.
Would you like to live in Uganda? Why or why not? Think about climate, culture, jobs, safety, healthcare, education and lifestyle.
How do you see the future of humanity? Think about technology, climate change, migration, poverty, wars, healthcare and education.
How should governments help the population grow if a country faces population decline? Use: support working parents, affordable housing, parental leave, childcare, family-friendly policies.
How should governments restrict population growth if a country is overpopulated? Think about ethical measures: education, contraception, women’s rights, healthcare, poverty reduction and voluntary family planning.
What is your attitude to the current population of the planet? Are there too many people, or is the real problem unfair distribution of resources?