The place Adana knew as home lies desolate. All the six sons, born of her grandmother passed on with their wives. Each family left behind helpless young children. They are now under the care of an old, ailing and helpless widowed woman. They say whoever neglects culture is a prisoner, yet one who’s had a taste of her life experience will go for prison life, than the cultural trauma. It all traces back to when she was twelve.
As culture would demand it, girls at her age were required to “cross over”, a concept which entailed facing the blade of female genital mutilation, the size of sorghum grain had to be made on the clitoris of a young female. There are old women, specialized into this. One blade used for all who came for the initiation ceremony. This opened avenues to multiple health and emotional troubles. The compromised hygienic standards, warranted contraction of multiple diseases.
Girls at her age all got married the following season, with some married to men the age of her grandfather, some of whom had lost their wives to a condition perceived to be “chira”, a disease that would drain the body to eventual death. While many believed in the Adana community that “chira ” was a curse, this was HIV raging fiercely due to barbaric cultural practices like “crossing over ” and wife inheritance.
Many seemed oblivious of the hazards of their cultural heritage. As more were forced into inhumane practice of the blade, the risk was largely spread to the vast majority. Many contracted HIV/AIDS but still, unawares, kept on spreading to others through the network of wife inheritance. The belief in traditional medicine couldn’t combat the deadly sting. Many families lost parents leaving helpless children under care of others.
Since the establishment of an overseas Non Governmental Organization in Adanas’ area, in partnership with the local and national governments, many have been enlightened on the dangers of the wayward cultural practices, while many orphans adopted and sponsored to go school. The sick individuals have been enrolled on medication programs and dietary supplements to improve the health of the community.
“It is very difficult for this barbaric practice to be dealt with because all our traditional leaders are too much into culture. So what becomes of my community?” Adana says.
57 Responses
Great work Faith. Transforming norms through art.
This is a good creative story, I love the creativity you have. Good job.
Thank you. Together we can end FGM.
Thank you for the motivation 🙏
Wow! This great work, keep it up with this good work.👍
This is a nice story, congratulations on this ,and together let’s support each other to end fgm
👍
This is a nice story.
A very articulated story, 👌
Keep it up Faith, I wish you more and more success in your remarkable work.🙏
Thank you, I appreciate
Amazing story. 👏
Us as youths should take charge and fight this inhumane act.
👌
Actually this story is great, I love it keep up the spirit girl.
Thank you 🙏
I do appreciate your feedback
Bravo Faith! Enjoyed this wonderful full of sad emotions story.👏
Good story.👌
Wow Faith, you are amazing, the story is great. Well-done
Thank you
.”So what becomes of my community”, this phrase is upon us to change this barbaric act, and transforms our community to see the light.
FGM should be stop because it has no positive health benefits but rather harm girls both mentally psychologically and lowers there self-esteem.
Nice story 👍
Thank you
I like the story, 👏 good job Joy.
Kudos! Let’s come together to put an end to FGM.
This is really great.
Fantastic, I love the story.
The content, the flow the grammar, this story has it all. Keep it up.
Bravo, good story.
Your story is very interesting, you have a good way of writing the story, kudos👍
Congratulations. This story flows👍
Do what you most Faith, this is an encouraging story.
I like your story, it’s brings out the picture of what happens in the community clearly.
I’m proud of you Faith, this is a marvelous story
This story is 🔥👌
Let’s come together to end FGM!
Good thoughts, great writing, learned from reading it.
You are an inspiration Faith.👏
Your story is on the other end, it’s really following and one can’t get bored reading it, good work.
What a breathtaking story! Keep it up.
You are an inspiration to the youth, kidos
Let’s say no to FGM, together we can.👏
Perfectly stated Faith, I want to read more of your work
I stand with you Faith to ensure we end FGM
Wow, this a good piece of literature.
Your story is great, well done and keep the fire burning.
Ending FGM calls for a collective responsibility. Nice story
Female genital cutting is women rights violation, lets end it
Wonderful
I need more of such stories
Well done Faith…This is to inform the new generation to do away with the culture believeth in FGM
Keep education people.
Simple but well elaborated, good story.👍
Stop FGM! Speak out.
FGM must be very traumatizing, let’s put an end to it
An amazing peace of art in form of a story, keep it up Faith.