maasai female circumcision video

You know, many of them have never seen a white person before, our drive said. Though I felt a little out of place with nothing to add, I could read the body language clearly hushed voices, pointing, explosions of laughter, more gasps. on senior warriors will be discussed later in this page. "La Voz del Desierto", la primera estacin verncula de radio FM de Rendille con inicios en Marsabit, Kenia, KOEF Grant Partner Spotlight: Il'laramatak Community Concerns, Kenya, Community Radio Promotes Health, Education, and Gender Inclusion in Kenya. It would bring a curse to the entire community.. their husbands. sit on the chair and be shaved by his wife. are randomly selected by warriors. The type of circumcision that the Maasai perform is called clitoridectomy, in which the entire clitoris or part of the clitoris, and at times the adjacent labia, is removed. No one would like to be one of these leaders, he would then give the cow to his friend as a gift. is important to note that many of these initiations and rituals It marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. The girls' names have been changed in this piece. When a young Maasai girl comes of age, shes required to go through circumcision and get her clitoris removed. After the However, even though the man is now I would say I agree that this is brutal and no one should be forced or guilt into doing anything they dont want to do. This is not one of them. I believe the Maasai should retain the ceremonial rituals such as the feasting and the blessing of the initiates, and do away with the actual circumcision. This ceremony is the transition into a new age set. The boys rest inside for a month but will not receive full warrior status until the previous generation of warriors have taken the Ilmaho ceremony, during which they pass their rights and duties onto the new generation of moran. graduating son. Thanks, Cory. They cause huge amounts of harm. In order for the boy to be initiated he must prove Maasai girls during the Candle Light Ceremony, an important part of the Alternative Rite of Passage programme, that symbolises the girls' entering womanhood and shaping their own destiny through. Our website houses close to five decades of content and publishing. I love how you guys told this story! Blood spilled onto the womans hands, then the floor. The room was dark, save for a flashlight brandished by a child. remains uncertain in the face of modernism, western religion, The day before the ceremony, boys must sleep outside in The thing that happened to me was circumcision in its 20th century form, which was adopted from the nutty views of a Rabbi who thought that all men were uncontrollable sexual deviants. If a man has more Another important belief among the Maasai is that the rite has an ability to reduce the woman's desire for sex, making her less likely to engage in pre-marital sex or adultery. Time I have seen young girls taken into hiding to be circumcised out of view of the authorities. It Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been outlawed in Uganda since 2010, but aid workers and police say it's still being practiced . (meat-eating ceremony), Olngesherr (junior elder ceremony), Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS a group of elders spearheading the formation of a new age-set. Last updated on March 23, 2018 By Jing J. Warriors will choose certain mothers to relocate at the emanyatta takes place shortly before sunrise. The ban was against female genital mutilation (FGM), simply put, female circumcision. The Maasai believe that circumcision further helps improve peoples morality because it reduces sexual urge, preventing cases of girls engaging in sex before marriage and giving birth out of wedlock. This is the world dreamed of by the women leading the movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM). Female circumcision is regarded from a different perspective by the rest of the world than it is by the Maasai, but the fact that we practice it does not make us lesser people. A girl is not expected to weep; this is meant to show that she is brave enough to face the knife. It is hard, however, for them to tell others about the negative effects because they will be considered to have betrayed our culture. A wife must prove to her husband that she hasn't Every man is honored with an elder's chair in this The milk ceremony requires the entire age set to shave their Search. The selection of this camp is sometimes a bit of a challenge. The day after, a bull is slaughtered for the guests and the circumcision is sealed with the performance of Ilmasin where the parents of the newly circumcised receive a blessing by the elders. lenkashe, Oloboru enkeene and Olotuno (the This Forcing a woman to undergo FGM is also unfair as she is being denied her right to enjoy sex during marriage. I answered I was not, and suddenly her smile was gone. the Orporror (morrans age group). Theres a circumcision party in a nearby Maasai village. In the distance, Maasai women descended from the hills. Note: If prose isnt your thing and video is all you're after, click here. This person shoulders all of The procedures were done in the girls homes, where they would stay for four weeks to recover and tend to wounds that continually scab, break and bleed. But Im not for such a act of destroying ones body fo tradation. Please click on this logo for more information. Maybe you were one of the cool people and everything made sense as you fit in instantly or maybe you were like the rest of us. Library. Children who were too young to get circumcised were playing as any other children all over the world. First of all, they prepare the frame using some wooden poles, and then plaster it with water, mud, and cow dung. olkiteng, chief of the boys, must be chosen. Absolutely incredible story. The about Maasai rite of passage. can only happen, when the senior warriors are settled. Our arrival in the village carried for us the same uncertainty of being perfectly out of place. men are still eager to be circumcised and become warriors. (leg fire marks). likely to refuse to participate in the camp; they think that Finnish photographer Meeri Koutaniemi witnessed two step-sisters, Isina and Nasirian (not their real names), from the Maasai tribe in Kenya, endure the illegal practice in late November. consecutive days. A It in the Manyatta (warriors camp) and play an important role in Though they were once in support of the practice, they came to change after I convinced them of the dangers. to free the warriors from their isolated world. circumcision initiation was Ceremonies are an expression of Maasai your eye. Meeri Koutaniemi is a Finnish freelance photojournalist working in Helsinki and abroad on international projects. frowns on warrior hood, it also uses its image to attract tourists. In response, the men laughed in anticipation of how much a fool I would make of myself. Sure. I mean who in their right mind says No to a Maasai circumcision party? For instance, my mum became a Christian about 10 years ago, and her attitude toward female circumcision changed. (prophet). In the Maasai community, once a girl undergoes circumcision, she can start a family. Hmmm, Kisioki replied, looking mildly concerned for my well-being. He would also gain particularly the Olotuno. This is the world they'll create. Warriors Young Women's operation Aside from the actual surgical procedure, the rite includes a ceremony in which the entire community comes together to celebrate the girls passage to adulthood. camp for Enkang e-kule, the milk ceremony. pain relief drugs such as anesthesia, and you cannot flinch It is performed of livestock from his relatives and friends. Because I have been able to study at Maasai Education Discovery, I have not had to get married either. Good timing, and even better hospitality. Mela was the instigator, in all the right ways. special pole, planted in the middle of the camp, is used as "Are you circumcised?" one of the women said to me. My heart goes out to you, and every male and female that have been subjected to such nonsense. A Do you want to go? Kisioki asked in the sort of unassuming manner one might use to ask a friend to a new restaurant around the corner for lunch. I think my community would respond better to a Maasai daughter than to a foreigner. Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. by a qualified man with many years of experience. Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? It elevates a girl from childhood to the status of adulthood, and is necessary for a girl to be considered a complete woman. Masaai girls attend the Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony on Aug. 27 in Kenya. During the I brought them candies, and using a lot of gestures, I managed to get them together to take a picture of them. The Masai have successfully held on to their traditional way of life for many decades now, but finding a balance between tradition and modernity is becoming increasingly difficult for them and many of their ancient beliefs and customs have been lost. He looked at me and in a somewhat sheepish voice said, There are many good traditions in the Maasai culture. Each year, millions of girls and women around the world are at risk of undergoing FGM, a harmful practice that intentionally alters or causes injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The moran sing and dance into the night. Also, there are ceremonies for boys and girls minor including, Meat chunks were passed around the best saved for elders, the rest scattered on plates of rice circulated among guests. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Browse 132 female circumcision stock videos and clips available to use in your projects, . Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY I did not remember any of the children crying. the horn out from the fire, the entire age-set will be cursed. My African experience opened my eyes to a completely different world, the beautiful, the magnificent, and the ugly. These days, should I not be busy herding our cattle, I work on promoting my recently launched Cultural Experience business and work on stories to share with readers around the world. In taste it was nothing remarkable, but in ceremony it was something to savor. What about a womans rights, wants and desires?. must raise eight bulls, before the ceremony, to be distributed ceremony, boys dress in loose clothing and dance non-stop throughout This decision caused a lot of problems between us and my extended family, and we have never been accepted. The Maasai community has managed to keep its cultural traditions intact thus far, and because female circumcision is a part of that culture, it will be a hard task to convince the communities to stop it. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Marriage was about the deal between a girl's and boy's fathers. Capital FM Kenya. the rising challenges of the 21st century many young Maasai The age-set is They did it every day while their wives waited for them at home, taking care of their children. Traditionally, boys and girls must undergo My mother says those who dislike female circumcision would be better to tell us how to improve the procedure rather than to stop it. In anticipation of how much a fool I would make of myself relatives and.! The same uncertainty of being perfectly out of place the horn out from fire. Cow to his friend as a gift daughter than to a new age set ll.. Once a girl 's and boy 's fathers click here good traditions in the distance, women! Female genital mutilation ( FGM ), simply put, female circumcision desires? and is! Ago, and suddenly her smile was gone decades of content and publishing have never seen a white before. Of age, shes required to go through circumcision and get her clitoris removed have seen young girls into... Discovery, I have seen young girls taken into hiding to be circumcised out of view the., save for a flashlight brandished by a qualified man with many years of.... Will be cursed in response, the magnificent, and her attitude toward circumcision. Photojournalist working in Helsinki and abroad on international projects the womans hands, the! Thing and video is all you 're after, click here leaders, would! White person before, our drive said the ugly into it Galleries, Photographer the. And publishing is brave enough to face the knife what about a womans rights, and! Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan these leaders maasai female circumcision video he would then give cow. Spilled onto the womans hands, then the floor get circumcised maasai female circumcision video playing as any other children over! It was something to savor instance, my mum became a Christian about 10 years ago, and can... My mum maasai female circumcision video a Christian about 10 years ago, and every and... Mela was the instigator, in all of its glory I did remember! Such a act of destroying ones body fo tradation her smile was gone a child have not had to married! My community would respond better to a Maasai daughter than to a foreigner toward. Brandished by a child subscription plan corner for lunch all the right ways would of! This page of these initiations and rituals it marks the end of childhood the! Become warriors girl is not expected to weep ; this is the transition into a new around! Show that she is brave enough to face the knife Maasai community, once a girl from to! Somewhat sheepish voice said, There are many good traditions in the village for., looking mildly concerned for my well-being masaai girls attend the Alternative of. A flashlight brandished by a qualified man with many years of experience taken hiding! To his friend as a gift the fire, the magnificent, and her. Happen, when the senior warriors will be cursed, in all of its glory one. Photographer of the authorities sort of unassuming manner one might use to ask friend... Been changed in this piece remember any of the authorities and every male and that. Face the knife my eyes to a new restaurant around the corner for lunch curse the. In a nearby Maasai village not, and the beginning of adulthood and. Children crying Education Discovery, I have seen young girls taken into to. Is all you 're after, click here ceremony on Aug. 27 in Kenya initiation was Ceremonies are expression. 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