One of the memorable activities of the New Yam Festival at Nrobo Community is the tales by moonlight sessions organized for children. It always seemed like the unofficial grand finale of the festival. The year is 2035 and this age-long tradition is about to commence. Boys and girls from the seven sacred clans of are gathered at the Market Square. The excitement can be felt. The children are in different groups, discussing the possible story that would be shared by Nwada. The Nwada is the head of the Umuada Forum, a social gathering of all Nrobo women. She is charged with various responsibilities and telling the moonlight story was top on the list.
Nwada had held the position for five yam festival cycles and she was such a beauty to behold, a dark-skinned, gap-toothed, robust woman from Obinihu. In her usual carriage, she hailed the children from each clan and had something beautiful to say of them. Nwada said she would share the story of how the girls and women of Nrobo became free from dangers of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the year 2023.
She explained that for so many decades, before 2023, the community practiced FGM by cutting the clitoris of the girl child, to ensure she was eligible for womanhood as well as to prevent promiscuity. Sadly, this practice only led to more death from bleeding during cutting and difficulty in childbirth. The elders decided that instead of cutting, they would use hot water on the clitoris, pressing it hard until it disappeared.
Nrobo was fortunate to have organizations who visited the community to sensitize them on the need to preserve girls from this harmful practice. It was tough to convince all the women both at home and in diaspora and even the men. After several town hall meetings, small progress was gained. The questions laid before the elders were:
1. Has promiscuity in women and girls ceased in the land?
2. Are there women who are successful that have not been cut?
3. What socio-economic benefits have been achieved through FGM?
4. Aren’t there harmful cultures that have been abolished for our common good?
After critical deliberations, the campaign against FGM gained grounds as Nrobo girls didn’t need to be cut to feel complete.
Nwada advised the children to grow up to question harmful traditions. They all felt grateful knowing that people fought for their rights.