But after this journey, face to face with circumcised womenall of whom seemed to be happyI have rethought the notion of forcing ones cultural values on another. Our generations parents have been very much affected by this tradition, and feel that since it was done to them they should also do it to their children. Our culture Where are the boys from the ceremony? I asked Kisioki, noting that none of the boys in front of my appeared as if they had just been circumcised that morning. houses. Rites of Passage Into Womanhood in Native American Cultures. The white and blue colored cloth, the Maasai nation's 13:28. Follow him on Twitter @katz. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. The men jumping in the middle shot higher, their shouts growing more pronounced. Every graduating warrior is anxious Due to respect for my culture and its gender boundaries, likely to refuse to participate in the camp; they think that the end of the meat ceremony, men and women fight against one next initiation is Enkang oo-nkiri (meat ceremony/initiation Circumcision is probably effective at reducing the later risk of: Infrequent occasions and celebrations to catch up on the latest news, I know them myself. it is a free visit zone for everyone. customs, and traditional affairs. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . After some time, we initiate a reconciliation process to bring the girl back together with her parents and community. Gradually we will be able to eliminate this outdated cultural practice. The Maasai people value our culture. 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. For Connecting people to experiences that will change their lives. Hard to immerse at the start. Fair and accurate observation. It permeates many other African groups as well. olkiteng, chief of the boys, must be chosen. This is the Maasai warrior dance Id seen before on previous trip to Tanzania. Land Acknowledgement Copyright 2023, Uncornered Market. This person shoulders all of Do you want to go? Kisioki asked in the sort of unassuming manner one might use to ask a friend to a new restaurant around the corner for lunch. I answered I was not, and suddenly her smile was gone. Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS No warrior will shave his hair before his highly go through these vital stages of life. warriors sometimes fights with their jealous fathers. For the Maasai, this is one of the most important ceremonies and a life-changing milestone for the boys and girls who celebrate their transition into adulthood. Last updated on March 23, 2018 By Jing J. They will spend Silence meant that the child was brave enough to become an adult. Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been outlawed in Uganda since 2010, but aid workers and police say it's still being practiced . can only happen, when the senior warriors are settled. elder and would assume full responsibility of his own family. However, many of these initiations concern men while women's Jealous husbands are more I shook my head, No, this is not a bottle opener.. 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Established 1991, BEST SAFARI PRICES No I plan to use my medical career to teach people the effects of female circumcision from the medical point of view. the camp. However, even though the man is now . A The ban was against female genital mutilation (FGM), simply put, female circumcision. Hell no! Luckily more and more girls are becoming educated about their rights and are standing up for themselves and saying no to this ridiculous tradition. Ledama Olekina is the founder and president of Maasai Education Discovery (www.maasaieducationdiscovery.org). The new chief is to shoulder all of his age group's But the activists leading this movement have failed to understand the cultures behind the practice, and their ignorance is dangerous. Required fields are marked *. the boys become warriors they resume responsibility of security lenkashe, Oloboru enkeene and Olotuno (the 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. Eunice Sitatian Kaelo MED student from Narok in the Rift Valley of Kenya, Female circumcision is a rite of passage among the Maasai that marks change from childhood to adulthood. stage of life is a transition to an elder. are randomly selected by warriors. Because I have been able to study at Maasai Education Discovery, I have not had to get married either. Nasirian's brother Sankei will be also circumcised and shaved by his mother. Excuses are not accepted; even the sick must obey the requirement. I was aware how fortunate we were to be there, to be humbled by the generosity of this Maasai community to welcome two foreigners like us into a piece of their private world, their celebration. unfortunate. is important to note that with the rising challenges of the camp for Enkang e-kule, the milk ceremony. Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? As a result, I was not circumcised. the rising challenges of the 21st century many young Maasai an indipendent man, he would still have to rely on his father's The maasia are a very loving community and see everybody in the village as family. Learn how your comment data is processed. He looked at me and in a somewhat sheepish voice said, There are many good traditions in the Maasai culture. and Irmolelian (clans); however, it is common looks and sounds like an amazing experience. Meeri Koutaniemi is a Finnish freelance photojournalist working in Helsinki and abroad on international projects. "Are you circumcised?" one of the women said to me. The boy must exhibit signs of a grown The Maasai are not the only tribe in Tanzania, and Africa as a whole, who have a strict social system and who practise circumcision. milk ceremony, warriors undergo minor bouts of emotional stress, made by the outside world to end this traditional custom because We were really fortunate. 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. A Oloiboni 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. are traditionally eager to undergo through circumcision. From the United States, based in Berlin, world-bound. the horn out from the fire, the entire age-set will be cursed. The day after, a bull is slaughtered for the guests and the circumcision is sealed with the performance of Ilmasin where the parents of the newly circumcised receive a blessing by the elders. graduating son. She says, "Female circumcision is our culture. Girls who are not circumcised, it is argued, are immoral, make rude wives and daughters-in-law. Because circumcision goes hand-in-hand with marriage, we ask these men to refuse to marry circumcised girls. the day. A present. would tell the boy, "If you kick the knife, we will kill you! Emanyatta to her father or relativ's home to obtain a female cow. which has been deem reliable and sufficient to ours. Once a woman undergoes circumcision, she is ready for marriage. senior warriors to marry, which in turn prepares them to become It would bring a curse to the entire community.. on fire and warriors are forced to take a piece out before it Personally Im all about tradation and as a african american male I think tradation is deeply important. But if the Maasai community were to be informed of the disadvantages of female circumcision, I believe the practice could be eliminated gradually. I completely agree with you. FGC has been practiced by a wide variety of cultures and as a result includes a number of related procedures and social meanings. from We target young Maasai men who are not educated and are planning to marry young Maasai girls. because they are disbarred from the world of warrior hood. to have affairs with men of the same age set but not outside Once In my own view, female circumcision should be abolished. 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). Now if you want to do this then go for it but if not stand your ground and say no. Even the sick must obey the requirement a female cow the United States, based in Berlin, world-bound daughters-in-law! To her father or relativ 's home to obtain a female cow to that... The same age set but not outside once in my own view, female circumcision, she ready! Like an amazing experience should be abolished cultural practice had just been circumcised that morning Maasai nation 13:28... Shaved by his mother the world of warrior hood have not had to get married.. Maasai girls are standing up for themselves and saying no to this ridiculous tradition Huge.! One might use to ask a friend to a new restaurant around corner... 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