Education is a very powerful tool, no wonder misogynists do not want women to go to school! and Irmolelian (clans); however, it is common I am reading a book titled Saharasia; it has much information about this subject. stage of life is a transition to an elder. Every ceremony is a new life. (leg fire marks). They bounced, undulated, their wide beaded necklaces mesmerizing, synchronized. Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? as a man, I am not permitted to discuss details about women's if she says no the that ok. Lloyd, I appreciate your perspectives. Maasai girls during the Candle Light Ceremony, an important part of the Alternative Rite of Passage programme, that symbolises the girls' entering womanhood and shaping their own destiny through. Most painfully, I have heard of girls from my community as young as 10 years old undergoing circumcision and being married. is over. Meanwhile, a line of Maasai warriors gathered in a straight line, their warrior shouts punctuating the once still air. ceremony), and is organized by fathers of the new age set. They sang, their voices carried. be united and initiated. Theres still a long way to go, but its encouraging to see that only 62% of girls with secondary education in Kenya were circumcised, compared to 96% of those with no education (per womanaid.org). MED also has initiated a program to involve the men. Mela is inviting us to join her. Each year, millions of girls and women around the world are at risk of undergoing FGM, a harmful practice that intentionally alters or causes injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. his age set. It is also mostly done against her wishes and becomes a violation of her rights. As a african american male. We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory. Village girls (and boys) are shaved using a razor blade and milk. app@africageographic.com With the support of MED, she will soon attend Chicago State University in the United States, where she will pursue medicine. Weeks earlier, Koutaniemi met with the father of the girls and asked if she could document the coming-of-age ritual and accompanying ceremonies. Following Nasirian cries at the start of the circumcision. an indipendent man, he would still have to rely on his father's popular rite of passages and ceremonies in the Maasai society. are many ceremonies in Maasai society including Enkipaata Meat chunks were passed around the best saved for elders, the rest scattered on plates of rice circulated among guests. If we abandon Fascinating insight. houses. Agents of change is probably the last of its kind. Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before their planned circumcision. The moran sing and dance into the night. He was an educated man and lived outside of the tribe. female genital mutilation: first . However, even though the government few days before the operation, a boy must herd cattle for seven Also 3 cows are worth 3000 in there eyes. This initiation also permits The primary reason female circumcision is practiced among the Maasai is that it is considered a rite of passage. The next day, we encountered the biggest celebration in Maasai culture, even greater than a wedding: Maasai boys and girls around the age of 12 were to be circumcised. must be chosen by the warriors before the ceremony; Olaiguanani Many Maasai families cannot afford to give their children formal schooling, so to protect their daughters from lives of poverty they choose to marry them off at a young age. We have always had reasons behind the practice. warrior. Mary, I agree with you completely. have been unfaithful to the age-set. It is hard, however, for them to tell others about the negative effects because they will be considered to have betrayed our culture. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 I plan to use my medical career to teach people the effects of female circumcision from the medical point of view. Eunoto, Eokoto Circumcision In the Maasai community, circumcision is a rite of passage. Over the past four years, Maasai Education Discovery (MED), an organization created and operated by Maasai, has worked to promote alternatives to female circumcision. In the early morning of the day of the event, he will e-kule, Enkang oo-nkiri, How do you feel, and what are your thoughts? Needles to future fathers. Copyright 2022 CycleHarmony All rights reserved. camp), which is performed in a selected camp that contains ten She says, "Female circumcision is our culture. Every decade or so the Emuratare (circumcision) is opened for several years, which gives rise to a new generation of moran (warriors). This is the second in a developing series of films (see also Womanhood and Circumcision: Three Maasai Women Have Their Say) on culture change among the Maasai of Kenya at the end of the 20th century. While she was there, many older villagers confided they were proud their community still practiced FGM/C. age set. Scene in the cowshed, just after the circumcision. the husband. Because circumcision goes hand-in-hand with marriage, we ask these men to refuse to marry circumcised girls. The knot allows The new chief is to shoulder all of his age group's A major international movement has developed over the past 20 years to eradicate the cultural practice of female circumcision that takes place in many African and Asian countries. "It takes one day to destroy a house; to build the society. Carefully selected conservation projects one-stop, seamless, transparent donations APP subscribers only. Both men and women of the Maasai society My parents, though they are illiterate, are against female circumcisionan unusual position for any typical Maasai. While their traditional customs and festivities do not generally impact on the lives of urban Tanzanians, their decision-making processes are recognised by the Tanzanian government, and results that impact the entire Maasai population like the recent election of a new Laibon (spiritual leader) are agreed on in unison. a tremendous amount of respect for his bravery. In taste it was nothing remarkable, but in ceremony it was something to savor. Enkipaata, Evelyn Nashipae Nkadori graduated from the Moi Girls Secondary School Isinya in 2003. art of oratory skills and animal husbandry. Now I if there going to do this shit then wait til the girl is a woman and let it be her callNOT the village, her family, or anyone else and. I thought to myself, What the hell is this?! If she does marry, she fetches a much lower bride price (usually measured by the number of cattle). To start with, it causes a lot of pain to the initiates. It is supposed to reduce a womans desire for sex and reduce immorality. takes place shortly before sunrise. Twelve-year old girls from a Maasai community in Kenya. 0:00 / 21:27 Hope Uncut: Girl circumcision still practised in Maasai community 3,014 views Dec 26, 2016 For a long time, the conservative Maasai community has been associated with the practice. Ceremonies are an expression of Maasai Though some groups such as the Christian Church, educators, and some non-governmental organizations have made an effort to abolish this practice, the Maasai, according to my mother, are stubborn. remains uncertain in the face of modernism, western religion, But the activists leading this movement have failed to understand the cultures behind the practice, and their ignorance is dangerous. If you run away from the knife, your society will disown you. More Grunts followed chants, harmony mimicked heartbeat. Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY Maasai man walking to the forest to help others bring slaughtered animals to the village. But you need to split up. No man Hell no! Cheers. e-kule (milk-drinking ceremony), Enkang oo-nkiri region. A year later, on beautiful Mafia Island, I met a local Maasai who became my husband and I moved to his family boma in the Maasai Steppe of Tanzania. special pole, planted in the middle of the camp, is used as Dont get me wrong everybody has the right to say no. a woman to regain respect from her husband, she must go back The women are expected to build the houses whenever they move to a new place. Every decade or so the Emuratare (circumcision) is opened for several years, which gives rise to a new generation of moran (warriors). a new house will take months and perhaps years. The Maasai are not the only tribe in Tanzania, and Africa as a whole, who have a strict social system and who practise circumcision. in the cold weather and receive a cold shower to cleanse himself. to adulthood. All this shows greatness in their culture. Read More | Work With Us, Travel and life evangelist. After the Eunoto ceremony is performed by members of the age set, Phideline Nasieku, age 18, hopes to obtain a scholarship to attend college and is determined to change the way her community views women, especially regarding female circumcision and education. his age set's bad and good deeds. Your email address will not be published. ceremony. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. There I was opening bottles of soda for a group of Maasai women in a hut in the middle of Tanzania. Agnes Kainett KisaiMED student from Ewuaso Kedong in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Males are born with a hood of skin covering the glans of the penis. If a woman is found guilty of violating such a Many Maasai, therefore, mean many cattle, which leads to potential overpopulation and overgrazing, causing a decline of local . Men gathered closely, their fighting sticks echoing the leanness of their bodies. pain relief drugs such as anesthesia, and you cannot flinch Three of us sat on the ground together, sharing one plate and one spoon, taking a bite and passing it on. For example, people In some cases, Christianity has changed this attitude. Circumcision is probably effective at reducing the later risk of: Koutaniemi arrived the day before the procedure. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com Later we had a break by the nearby lake. Another important belief among the Maasai is that the rite has an ability to reduce the woman's desire for sex, making her less likely to engage in pre-marital sex or adultery. I smiled, considering how our assumptions of what ought to be often get in way of what could be. Maintaining these ceremonial practices would be enough to qualify a girl as an adult, without causing her harm in the process. She touched my arm gently and started to pray for me. However, the head teacher of the Ol Donyo Nyokie Primary School, Rebbeca Pateli, told IRIN there had been several incidents of injury and even death from FGM. SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more great videos: https://www.youtube.com/KTNkenya Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTNNews Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KTNNewsKenya For more great content go to http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktnnews and download our apps:http://std.co.ke/apps/#android KTN News is a leading 24-hour TV channel in Eastern Africa with its headquarters located along Mombasa Road, at Standard Group Centre. Maasai. A poorly performed procedure causes excessive bleeding, which causes death or anemia. 32 minutes ago. For an insight into life with the Maasai, please visit my website or check out my blog. I went to Tanzania because I wanted to meet Maasai people. Every graduating warrior is anxious The female circumcision practice is unfair to the girl because it exposes her to serious health complications. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! chosen camp that includes a total of forty-nine houses. the boys become warriors they resume responsibility of security One of the places we visited was the Maasai Mara, a large game reserve in southwestern Kenya. ceremony (senior's warrior initiation). camp for Enkang e-kule, the milk ceremony. few months after the Eunoto, warriors form a small Circumcision is con .more .more. Sign up today to stay informed about the latest news, Cultural Survival program updates, events and MORE 2022 Cultural Survival. Kisioki tugged at each of us, indicating we had to leave; it was late and the sun would soon set. Your email address will not be published. (marriage), Eunoto (warrior-shaving ceremony), Eokoto The girl first bathes with cold water, and then the operation is carried out. themselves to get near the bull's skin to see if their wives Their heavy workloads, especially during times of nomadic moves, affect them more. 2023 Getty Images. such as spears, clubs and shields are carried by warriors during Note: If prose isnt your thing and video is all you're after, click here. your eye. Isina says she is not afraid of the consequences of the circumcision. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Jing Jin and her community. With The actual circumcision takes part at night after a ritual washing of the boys out in the bush. I am the new face of the Maasai girl and I will do all I can to help educate my community and my people positively and to ensure that I am a person who will be regarded as a source of hope in my community. of years", Maasai belief. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Facts Along with a group of other journalists, I traveled from the city of Arusha, deep in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. Despite a drop in recent years, female genital mutilation or circumcision is still practiced and valued in some 30 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, under the belief that girls must be cut in order to prepare them for marriage. Audrey go with the women, Dan with the men.. People who have undergone FGM suffer psychologically due to the trauma of the incident, and also because of the stigma it has obtained. FGC has been practiced by a wide variety of cultures and as a result includes a number of related procedures and social meanings. At the end of the day, when we were about to leave, many of the children came to our car to say goodbye. Nice story loved it. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! However, seeing as the ritual has serious health consequences and makes sexual activities highly painful, circumcision has been illegal in Kenya since 2011: it can cause death and . next initiation is Enkang oo-nkiri (meat ceremony/initiation Follow him on Twitter @katz. warriors sometimes fights with their jealous fathers. Note: than one wife, it is the older wife's responsibility to shave Because of the negativity surrounding discussion of the practice, many Maasai are not willing to talk about the practice in public. Masaai girls attend the Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony on Aug. 27 in Kenya. You have reached your limit of free articles. We followed the group into the open-air corral and moved to the edges, positioning ourselves to absorb a widening scene in front of us. Eudoto/Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa (earlobe), and Ilkipirat The men formed a circle. Though they were once in support of the practice, they came to change after I convinced them of the dangers. I think Audrey and I both emerged from that culinary episode unscathed. Why should we be forced to adopt a culture that is not ours? We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. can only happen, when the senior warriors are settled. The village chief tells everyone whats next when to eat, when to dance. Kisoki explained. The Masai have successfully held on to their traditional way of life for many decades now, but finding a balance between tradition and modernity is becoming increasingly difficult for them and many of their ancient beliefs and customs have been lost. allowed to have as many meat camps as they need throughout the As a male who had 90% of his pleasure nerves crushed off with my entire foreskin and frenulum, I hate all these barbaric rituals. by participating in the bull's skin ritual. Masaai Circumcision Ritual (2005) Two hours later, we arrived in a clearing dotted with a few huts and a large animal corral. Maasai Morans. Will they reconcile? another for the specially roasted meat. commitement, she will be disrespected by her husband and by She will stay in bed for four weeks and will be fed animal blood and meat to regain her strength. Women Thanks, Silvia. Boys are circumcised for similar reasons. The fear comes when the actual ritual starts, Koutaniemi said. Gradually we will be able to eliminate this outdated cultural practice. It is the mother's role to shave her Rites of Passage Into Womanhood in Native American Cultures. the camp. We are told to This is not one of them. It takes a while for them to get used to this. Though I felt a little out of place with nothing to add, I could read the body language clearly hushed voices, pointing, explosions of laughter, more gasps. The our way of life to construct a new one, it will take thousands In some cases, the main circumcision ceremony takes place days after the surgery. - female circumcision stock videos & royalty-free footage . But in the masia world this is one of few brutal things that go on. women no longer undergo through circumcision. Unlike many non-Maasai anti-FGM activists, we have not threatened to prosecute those who practice female circumcision. Inflammation of the cells around the circumcision area also occurs shortly after the operation. But Im not for such a act of destroying ones body fo tradation. This wasn't a performance for my benefit, it was all theirs. Two What about a womans rights, wants and desires?. The local Maasai did not hesitate to let their herd drink from the muddy lake. it is a free visit zone for everyone. Library. The white and blue colored cloth, the Maasai nation's important initiation known as Emuratare (circumcision). Search. During the festival, In the following pages, four Maasai women discuss their feelings about FGM. initiation. The Maasai women all seemed to be happy to be circumcised. Children who were too young to get circumcised were playing as any other children all over the world. a way to elevate an individual from childhood to adulthood.This This ceremony is the transition into a new age set. Bottles of Coke and Fanta were handed into our space. This decision caused a lot of problems between us and my extended family, and we have never been accepted. But Is That a GoodThing? Maasai warriors who have fought discrimination against uncircumcised women attend a gathering on Feb. 6, where cultural elders committed to abandoning female circumcision, in Olmesutie,. Traditionally, He looked at me and in a somewhat sheepish voice said, There are many good traditions in the Maasai culture. unfortunate. Before Audrey and I were the only visitors, and amidst the lithe and remarkable bodies of the Maasai who surrounded us, we felt awkward, travel pants, goofy one-dollar bush hats and all. Nasirian's brother Sankei will be also circumcised and shaved by his mother. 21st century in the Maasai society, many young Maasai women I answered I was not, and suddenly her smile was gone. respected age set chiefs. A few tended to large meat hunks smoldering on grills. and environmental challlenges. That morning, a woman walked into a mud hut belonging to one of the girls families, picked up a razor blade, lowered her hand to between the legs of one of the girls and made her bleed. At Before Maasai girls in Kenya and Tanzania are married, they must undergo circumcision in a ceremony that 99 percent of the time is sponsored by their prospective suitors. Through our stories, advisory, and speaking we are creating a movement of travelers and businesses who live at the intersection of adventure, meaningful travel, and caring for our planet and its people. Each Maasai section has its A few failed attempts later I finally got the hang of angling the carabiner and I took on a new, important role in my group: bartender. Therefore, Maasai Women End Traditional Female Circumcision. Browse 132 female circumcision stock videos and clips available to use in your projects, . It is right for a wife The ceremony takes place in another specially the Orporror (morrans age group). The circumcision ceremony takes place in early morning. There In such a small community, they could afford neither. They will spend No The They did it every day while their wives waited for them at home, taking care of their children. Eunice Sitatian Kaelo, age 18, completed high school at the Narok Districts Maasai Girls High School in 2003. Personally Im all about tradation and as a african american male I think tradation is deeply important. Also, during this event, an animal horn is set 'The Hunters' focuses on four men who undertake a hunt to obtain meat for their village. Enkipaata would tell the boy, "If you kick the knife, we will kill you! to adapt to harsh environmental conditions such as famine etc. A specially chosen bull is slaughtered for initiation elevates an individual from childhood Secondly, the practice today is often done under unhygienic conditions and health problems develop. Women of the village peel potatoes for the ritual dinner. It would bring a curse to the entire community.. A couple of weeks ago I took a safari trip to Africa with my family. is a highly regarded spiritual leader in charge of Maasai religious, I recently read this line: Some would argue that sexual mutilations are simply a cultural trait; but would you classify the murder and mutilation of the jews by Hitler a cultural trait?(non-verbatum) I thought it was an excellent line. Emanyatta male circumcision is the latest weapon against africa's spiralling hiv problem, with research showing it can cut infection rates by up to 60 percent . The According to our traditions and practices, it is meant to have a positive rather than a negative effect on the girl. do not have their own age-set but are recognized by that of This was a gossip circle. In Kenya, the African Medical and Research Foundation is fighting against female genital mutilation. Two children carry tree branches for the circumcision ritual. The boys rest inside for a month but will not receive full warrior status until the previous generation of warriors have taken the Ilmaho ceremony, during which they pass their rights and duties onto the new generation of moran. which has been deem reliable and sufficient to ours. initiate one). But twelve years later, the . the age set. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. for their territory. senior warriors to marry, which in turn prepares them to become It is better for one person to be unfortunate than many. Women's operation But if the Maasai community were to be informed of the disadvantages of female circumcision, I believe the practice could be eliminated gradually. is where the warriors learn about the age set brotherhood, the I was circumcised when I was younger, before I understood the dangers. 7 Comments. Fire Isina's mother shows the razor which will be used to circumcize her daughter. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. (senior warrior's initiation). Earlier that day, at dawn, in the village where we were headed, a group of Maasai boys aged between 16 and 18 years old had just been circumcised. Aside from the actual surgical procedure, the rite includes a ceremony in which the entire community comes together to celebrate the girls passage to adulthood. In my own case, I was offered three cows for marriage by a young warrior. engaged in an illegal sexual affair with a man of the younger Oloiboni He would also gain to have affairs with men of the same age set but not outside However, many of these initiations concern men while women's The ban was against female genital mutilation (FGM), simply put, female circumcision. to the elders at the graduation day. basis will entertain the Oloiboni until the event This Do you have that hand disinfectant with you?. and Place of Circumcision. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. FEIN 23-7182593. RMM52BX2 - Young men and women from the Sebei tribe in Kapchorwa, northeast Uganda, reenact the ceremony they'd go through before circumcision or female genital mutilation (FGM). Learn how your comment data is processed. Our arrival in the village carried for us the same uncertainty of being perfectly out of place. Two young Maasai men were herding about 30 cows. I hoped that my digestive system would find itself on the right side of hygiene. Due to respect for my culture and its gender boundaries, Then another sound, indiscernible to me, that apparently indicated it was time to gather by the corral. Infrequent occasions and celebrations to catch up on the latest news, I know them myself. I consider this objective positive, because for many, being considered an adult is enough to instill responsibility into him or her. They have many interesting rituals and ceremonies for boys entering into adulthood and later being initiated to become warriors. initiation. For as out of place as I was, the men paid little attention to me. I did not remember any of the children crying. All the women were dressed up in colorful clothing decorated with beads, but also jewelry on their arms, legs, and heads. I completely agree with you. by women of the homestead. Good timing, and even better hospitality. elder initiation) and marks the status of a junior elder. 13:28. They tell us that unless we stop the practice, we are all going to be prosecuted. one of the women said to me. mud hut made specificaly for the Oloiboni. They cause huge amounts of harm. Weapons It may cause death, as the equipment used is mostly shared and may spread diseases such as AIDS. Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The U.N. estimates more than 125 million girls and women are living with the often-horrific consequences of FGM/C. made by the outside world to end this traditional custom because operation is successfully completed, the boy would receive gifts In order for the boy to be initiated he must prove This is the world dreamed of by the women leading the movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM). Before the circumcision the mother shaves all the hair from her daughter.