Generally, in our African setting, women are taken as shy, passive participants in sexual activities. Men, on the other hand, are taken as the main players, often looked up to as the drivers and initiators of the whole act. But with emancipation of women in life, change is slowly slipping into the bedrooms and women are taking up their role in making sure that they are happy and satisfied sexually.
Since time immemorial, sexual enhancement drugs and herbs have made part of our lives, now the same is growing, especially among women. Two young women in Lilongwe, in the names of Marcellina Kaunda and Taomaida Saka, teamed up to establish a company called ‘Phalombe Sweetness’ which specialises in selling sexual enhancement drugs and herbs, mainly focusing on women.
Kaunda said they started the business to sell sexual enhancement drugs and herbs for women after noting that women, especially African women are taken as agents of pleasuring men, forgetting that women, too, have needs.
She said: ”Think about some of the things we were told from a tender age. The whole concept of initiation is to train women on how to please a man. Nothing wrong with that, but less or no focus at all is placed on things that can help a woman enjoy sexual pleasures.”
Kaunda said when she and her partner started the business, they had in mind that it is easy for women to please men when they, too, are also being pleased.
She said sex is a subject that is mostly talked about among women, but they may lack help to ensure maximum pleasure; hence, the coming in of their products.
What are these products and what do they do?
Kaunda said they sell Tseketseke, Esinati and Chiswa B for women.
“Not to leave men behind, we also sell Gondolosi, Nkhondo ku Bedi and Mkwapukwapu,” she said.
Kaunda disclosed that they also sell African bedroom accessories, which include waist beads (mikanda) and lingerie to spice things up in the bedroom.
How do some of these herbs work?
For Esinati, according to Kaunda, the herb increases sensation among women while at the same time helping to tighten the vaginal canal.
“This product has rejuvenated so many marriages. Tseketseke helps to keep the women wet while Chiswa B helps with vaginal cleansing,” claims Kaunda.
What are women saying about sex and the use of herbs?
Many women we spoke to were happy to discuss the topic, but on condition of anonymity.
Maria Pensulo, a resident of Ndirande said she sometimes uses herbs when she accesses them.
“It is difficult for me to go around buying these things. Anthu atha kundiona ngati hule [people can mistake me for a prostitute], but when I get an opportunity, I use Tseketseke and it works wonders,” she said.
Pensulo said the natural herbs work just like modern medicine just that it is hard to openly talk and convince others about them.
Another woman who refused to be identified told Society that she has used sexual herbs before, but she does not want her partner to know for fear of his reaction.
“I don’t know how he would react but, yes, I use the sexual herbs sometimes and I feel they work,” she said.
Our random interviews with women from Facebook groups indicate that many of them have either ever used sexual herbs or are curious to use them, but they are uncomfortable to openly admit.
For Kaunda and her partner, business is booming, an indication that women are embracing the sexual herbs.
Said Saka: “To my surprise, sex is one of their most talked about subjects. I think we have come a long way. What we need is to not only share information on how to please a man but rather how to also enjoy the activity ourselves. They say a happy woman makes a happy marriage.
