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 only prerequisite to transition into adulthood. Girls who failed to go through it were considered of a lesser material to be a wife and outcasts of culture. Attribute that none would wish of her daughter, let alone herself.

A cut, the size of sorghum grain had to be made on the clitoris of a young female. There are old women, specialised into this. One blade used for all who came for the initiation ceremony.

Women have no say to culture. All the talks I attempted to hold with my mother prior to the “knife” were fruitless but encouraged me to make a brave go at it, to fetch more cattle for my dowry. Much as she never liked the memories that accompanied her cut, she only wished there could be a way out. What could a woman do in a culture that esteem her of equal value to the beasts of burden?

Decades have rolled since I eloped home from early marriage. Having attained “maturity”, I only fit to be married to a man the age of my father.
My dignity and dreams of succeeding through education had to be sacrificed.
I left home that evening. The risk of the lonely night instilled lesser fear, as compared to the pain of losing my dignity. I knew I met haven when I landed in the hands of Mrs. Makau, matron Bwangu Children’s Home.
As I battled the trauma of dissociation from my family on grounds of culture, I was persuaded that many girls are suffering this same trauma, without a courage to brave through the risk. This burden brought a debt in my heart to deliver my village sisters from FGM. A heavy desire rested in me to change a culture, something that has never been so easily done.

Mrs. Makau had to be the perfect partner in driving my dreams. My conscience is free because a number of girls have been liberated from this bondage through championing against FGM. The beastly women have joined the campaign after fruitful deliberation. I am woman the scar remains with me but the victory is seen in the lives of the gives liberated.

56 Responses

  1. This piece indeed gives us the real picture of what young girls in places where FGM is still a norm go through. The shutting of dreams, the ruining of their dignity and the heavy chains that they have to unchain both mentally and on their hands and legs. This is a good piece to look at all these.

  16. I love the phrase, ‘women have no say in culture’. It explains how much we need to put more efforts to advocate for rights of women which also includes the girl child rights. This piece is beautiful.@Tonny kudos!

  50. Talent in writing what our women go through on a daily basis ,,well done for the efforts and support you give out there

  53. When you see light the best thing is to guide others towards the same light so that we all shine great article.

  55. This a really nice story I’m glad that most communities as of now have been able to do away with this archaic cultures that degrade women.

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