“STOP, STOP, STOP I NEED HELPPLEASE” were the words that came out from the mouth of my friend Annett in a deep voice with a lot of pain, when she was in a small glass roofed hut in the middle of the Jabuluni forest for her circumcision, I remember.
I am Anna a close friend of Annett who was the first daughter of my mother’s close friend. Annett was not only my best friend but also my birth mate, all born the same day at our Jabuluni village. Our mothers’ named our names starting with “A” since we were all first born in our families. We grow up together, we enjoyed every moment together and the village was happy for us too everyone counted their blessings on us.
One day when were around 10 years old, we attend UNYAGO celebrations of seventeen girls aged around 14 to17 years, they were our friends we once played together. But from this day forward they were not allowed to spend time with us anymore, as they were now recognized as adults. The girls’ parents were very happy of their children and hence the ceremony was great, we ate and drunk. It was from this day that I and Annett never wanted to be children anymore we both complained to our parents that we want to grow and be females, want to go to JANDO.
It was then one Tuesday when we were 12 years old, we were called home. Annett’s father was home with my father, we were told to prepare to go to JANDO as we are now old enough. It was a sad day leaving home as we were accompanied with other twelve girls and two old females. At the middle of the Jabuluni forest we were taught how to seduce male, being under the law of a man no matter the order. At night we then entered the small hut of circumcision my friend Annett was just before me. I heard Annett crying so hard in a deep voice complaining of pain and not stop bleeding. It was just after sometime when I saw Annett body taken out dead. I was afraid and escaped. I brought to town by a stranger and I am now in front of you asking for your help I saw my friend dying due to due to female genital mutilation.