Final answer:
The Yorubas believe that massaging a baby's body with palm oil (E) will make the baby tough and courageous. This is one of many cultural practices surrounding childbirth and child-rearing in Yoruba communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Yoruba people hold cultural beliefs and practices that are distinct to their traditions. When it comes to making a baby tough and courageous, the Yoruba culture has a specific practice they believe in. The correct answer to what Yorubas believe will make a baby tough and courageous is massaging its body with palm oil (E). This practice is part of a broader array of rituals and customs surrounding childbirth and child-rearing in the Yoruba culture.
It's integral to understand the importance of such practices and rituals in Yoruba communities. They convey cultural values, beliefs, and communal support. For instance, the naming ceremony is critical to recognizing the baby as a true person in their society. During this ceremony, an elder or religious official publicly names the baby, signifying that the baby has been welcomed into the community with the support of family and friends.
It is also interesting to note that immediately after birth, the baby's umbilical cord is cut. This procedure is essential in helping the baby transition from receiving oxygen through the placenta to breathing on its own. The increase of carbon dioxide in the newborn's blood after the cord is cut stimulates the instinct to take the first breath.