Female Genital Mutilation - A harsh tradition of Africa

On the Lands of the North African countries, a ritual performed on young women is the most horrible and terrifying thing that I have come across. A surgical ritual in which women were forced to undergo Female genital mutilation, performed without using any kind of anesthetics.

It is chilling to even think about it, and the worse it's still performed in almost 30 African Countries.  Existing as common practice as 30 years ago in Somalia, Mali, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Chad, and Senegal.

This barbaric act was considered a necessary part of raising a girl and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. An act that involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia. Sometimes even sewing up the vaginal opening.

Some women have partial or total removal of the clitoris, some have the folds of flesh around the vagina removed, some have both those areas removed, some have the vaginal opening narrowed, often by stitching, and some women have some form of piercing, scraping, cauterizing to genitalia. Not just this but some women even undergo infibulation, a process of narrowing of the vaginal opening leaving only a very narrow opening for menstrual flow and intercourse.

Malko Jama, one of the many women to have experienced female genital mutilation explained in her interview about the disgusting procedure that occurred 30yrs ago. She was just nine when a woman came to her house. Soon after which they held her down to the ground, legs apart,  and then cut her with a razor. Jama was stitched back up with acacia thorns. All while she was awake, watching and screaming in pain.

 Like animals, these women were handcuffed, tied to the ground if struggled during the traditional ritual, the amount of pain that leads a person to ultimately get into shock. The people were so inhuman they tend to perform the procedure even twice on the same woman if the parts were not properly stitched. Left for days tied, urinating at the same place in such disgust and pain.

Now they have modern ways of stitching girls back up but 30yrs ago, they used thorns like pins for stitching the girls, same as Jama. It has been eradicated from some countries but it will take centuries to completely eradicate the tradition from the minds and the practice of the people.

Egypt is known to the source country for Female genital mutilation. It was also practiced a long time ago among other nations of the world including the Romans where it was done to prevent their female slaves from getting pregnant.

Being of such a young age, full of dreams and ideas to lead the world, when they can nurture their skills and prepare them for the outside world, what we call home to be the safest place for us, is not the same for those young ladies out there.

When the sun rises, it brings new hopes and light into our lives, but because of a sick thought prevailing in the minds of the people girls of young age face difficulties not only till the next few years after the ritual, but they have to practically live with the suffering and pain throughout their lives. Regular period problems, abdominal and back problems become part of their daily life.

It's us making these traditions, culture, and it's us who can change them. Traditions are meant to cherish the memories of our generations, not follow a custom that causes pain and suffering for the people. Being lost of morality and humanity following the notion that girls are clean and beautiful after the removal of body parts is obscene. Purity comes from the heart of the person, custom, and traditions that teach you otherwise had to be given a serious thought!!!







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