A BRIGHT STAIN ON THE VISION
I was only ten when I met the cruel face of my culture. If I were a painter, I would depict the horrible occurrence in a picture. The blade, blood, beastly women, pain, and cold nights are remarkable epitaphs on the grave of my dignity as a woman. As the say goes this was the […]
Goodbye Blades!
To celebrate my 50 years of age, my husband and I took a trip to my village. As we drove into my hometown, Aroro village, in the heart of Ibadan, Nigeria, memories of my childhood returned to me. Many things had changed but not the Saint David Anglican Church, it stood tall as always. Eateries […]
Future Africa without FGM.
Somewhere in Duse, Adimu watches her 14year old daughter meticulously go about chores. Suddenly, she hears those voices, again— voices of the women who had held her still, as she struggled, while her mother watched—The insistent gory images that appear to be real whenever she shut her eyes, makes her entire system hot, so much, […]
Future Africa without FGM
Waking up in the deep Masingu County in Kenya, life is peaceful. The life of the locals has completely transformed. Stories of the past no longer haunt my home. There is peace, love and growth among the community. Young girls peacefully attend school like any other girls around the world. After school, they tend to […]
Better future with bitter memories
Our community has been free from FGM for more than thirty years now. It is safer and much relaxing to turn sixteen without looking over your shoulders for someone to usher you into womanhood. It is a much better world. But My body is still filled with chills as I watch my oldest daughter Meera […]
THE VOW
THE VOW “It’s so easy for them nowadays; they do it in less than ten minutes.” “What are you talking about;” Amira asks grandma who is sited on the bench outside the maternity ward. Amira’s mother had just given birth to her younger sister. “Grandma, why are you not happy?” she asks “I am my […]
Future Africa Without FGM
It is Chepkite’s first time presiding over the rites of passage graduation ceremony since her appointment to the cabinet as head of Youth Affairs,in West Pokot, her county of birth. It is a magnificent moment. Not long ago, the idea of her, a woman,in such a key position of leadership,speaking to men,morans and elders would […]
CHEPT-O VICTORY IN POKOT-LAND
CHEPT-O VICTORY IN POKOT-LAND It is a beautiful morning and am packing for my flight from kampala to Pokot-land of victors, in karamoja. My dear wife serves me breakfast as we hurry to our airport taxi , as am reminded by Kamaali my driver that we will be late for the flight if we don’t […]
Then came freedom
Saturday was here.I had been waiting for a while for this day to come.Make that four whole months I had been looking forward to it.I could hear noise coming from the village square.Joyful noise.Ululation. ‘Amu please wake up,” my sister shouted.I scrambled out of my blankets and went outside.It was such a beautiful day.The sun […]
MGF- Myriam face à l’aubaine
Tout semble aller pour Myriam qui, du haut de ses 28 ans, voit le bonheur de vivre pour une fois. Il y a deux décennies, elle échappait de justesse à l’excision dans son village natal alors qu’elle était partie faire ses vacances. Sa mère qui avait consulté une de ses amies, a été dissuadée par […]