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What’s it Worth?

Uncle Gani opened the diary of his late niece…
Dear Diary,
I write to keep this date, THE DAY I BECAME A WOMAN. I am in pain and I have been bleeding for days, since I and uncle came to see my Grandma.
We arrived at our village some days back. I was so happy to see my grandma. Grandma Kojo called some other women to inform them that I was around. That night, Grandma called me and said, “By this time tomorrow, Abena you will be a woman” I was excited and I never understood what Grandma meant. The next day, I was in a red wrapper, four women came into the room two of them held my arms while the other one held my legs wide open with my grandma, then another woman came with a blade for the cut, I was circumcised. Female circumcision in my community is the sewing closed all or part of a girl’s or woman’s external genitals and a small part is left for urine and menstrual flow, I felt humiliated. I am tired and want to rest as I await my uncle to take me home.

Gani received a call from Grandma Kojo that Abena has to come to the village so that she can undergo their traditional rite of womanhood and keep her mother’s seed. Gani objected and Grandma was provoked by Gani’s response and said, “If this rite is not done, Abena cannot be seen as a wife material, and might end up being promiscuous or bringing another unwanted pregnancy just like her mother”. Gani was left with no other option but to take Abena to the village.

Grandma had two children, Gani and Fenty, her elder sister trained Fenty because she had no child. They left for the city when Fenty was 3 months old. She grew up, fell in love, and got pregnant in the city. Her lover left, and Fenty had to return to the village because she was pregnant and could not continue with school. Grandma blames the reason for this action as a result of Fenty not to have undergone the rite.

Grandma went to Abena’s room to get her prepared to go back to the city, she found out that Abena was not responding, she called Gani’s attention and they rushed to a nearby hospital, Abena could not make it due to a hemorrhage.

72 Responses

  13. Speaking the mind of the African child and society. Great expeession, and well articulated. This is just more than an article. Thanks Onyi.

  34. With FGM, there are numerous life-long health problems such as hemorrhage, infection, dyspareunia, genital ulcers, and child delivery complications.
    Stop Female Genital Mutilation.

    Thanks Onyi for this lovely storyline.

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