Should a woman find herself alone, she'll wait to join a group so she doesn't join the party by herself. the rising challenges of the 21st century many young Maasai go through these vital stages of life. It does not have any effect on her desire for sex or her morality, but it does have many negative effects when it comes to giving birth. ceremony is the most vital initiation of all rite of passages The Maasai women all seemed to be happy to be circumcised. But you need to split up. I smiled, considering how our assumptions of what ought to be often get in way of what could be. Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been outlawed in Uganda since 2010, but aid workers and police say it's still being practiced . which has been deem reliable and sufficient to ours. In most cases, these forceful approaches have not succeeded. Locations: Maralal District, Kenya Production Co. Mad Pig Productions. Every decade or so the Emuratare (circumcision) is opened for several years, which gives rise to a new generation of moran (warriors). High Definition Sony HVR-Z1U a group of elders spearheading the formation of a new age-set. The Kenyan government had made it a criminal offence to practice FGM in 2002. about Maasai rite of passage. Hmmm, Kisioki replied, looking mildly concerned for my well-being. She is now in Rio de Janeiro to continue another project, focusing on the impact of the World Cup on the inhabitants of the citys favelas, or slums. Over the past 10 years, I have witnessed people in my Kenyan Maasai community being arrested for practicing female circumcision. e-kule (milk-drinking ceremony), Enkang oo-nkiri Maasai culture is strongly patriarchal in nature, with elder men, sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for each Maasai group. The purpose of the camp is to keep men of the same age on the eighth day. Watch fullscreen. Why should we be forced to adopt a culture that is not ours? Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. Find and watch all the latest videos about Circumcision on Dailymotion. (warrior's camp). Originally from the U.S. Daniel has lived abroad since 2001 and most recently has been on the road since 2006. religions in Maasai land loibons are becoming less visible. "Are you circumcised?" one of the women said to me. They have many interesting rituals and ceremonies for boys entering into adulthood and later being initiated to become warriors. the cow. chosen camp that includes a total of forty-nine houses. Every decade or so the Emuratare (circumcision) is opened for several years, which gives rise to a new generation of moran (warriors). All travel bookings booked via Trust my Travel are financially protected by them. the end of the meat ceremony, men and women fight against one ceo@africageographic.com, Travel & conservation company, since 1991, , https://africageographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Elatim-tradition.mp4, Photographer of the Year 2023 Weekly Selection: Week 3, Photographer of the Year 2023 Weekly Selection: Week 2. maasai elders from seven regions in tanzania have signed a declaration to end female genital mutilation as a. etc. Note: They didnt leave anything.. Your email address will not be published. must be chosen by the warriors before the ceremony; Olaiguanani ceremony. Due to respect for my culture and its gender boundaries, (This is the first time in history for the age set As a result, I was not circumcised. I love how you guys told this story! customs, and traditional affairs. for a section to have more than two emanyatta camps. Women's operation One of the places we visited was the Maasai Mara, a large game reserve in southwestern Kenya. They bounced, undulated, their wide beaded necklaces mesmerizing, synchronized. During the Girls who are not circumcised, it is argued, are immoral, make rude wives and daughters-in-law. Abandoning our culture would be annoying our ancestors. flag, is tied to the pole before planting, and remains there across their section land for about four months announcing the The men jumping in the middle shot higher, their shouts growing more pronounced. Today, because the procedure often has to take place in hiding, female circumcision is mostly performed using shared and unsterilized objects, which can lead to HIV/AIDS and tetanus, and damage organs including the vaginal walls. It marks the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. My African experience opened my eyes to a completely different world, the beautiful, the magnificent, and the ugly. editors@africageographic.com 13:28. I created Cycle Harmony to share what I've learned to live in harmony with my body - and my life. Once a woman undergoes circumcision, she is ready for marriage. The girls' names have been changed in this piece. But Is That a GoodThing? pain relief drugs such as anesthesia, and you cannot flinch Thats why the children hid in their homes.. (Courtesy of Teri Gabrielsen/Alternative Rite of Passage Program . I have seen young girls taken into hiding to be circumcised out of view of the authorities. He was an educated man and lived outside of the tribe. At Female circumcision prepares girls for responsible married life, was one of the arguments for the practice of female circumcision. Unlike many non-Maasai anti-FGM activists, we have not threatened to prosecute those who practice female circumcision. Over four days, over 400 girls aged 8-15 undergo training sessions as per Maasai culture . All the women were dressed up in colorful clothing decorated with beads, but also jewelry on their arms, legs, and heads. at the age of about 35 years. 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). on fire and warriors are forced to take a piece out before it We have always had reasons behind the practice. form his own homestead. the emanyatta is not left unscathed. I plan to use my medical career to teach people the effects of female circumcision from the medical point of view. Time 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. The hair all over the girls bodies was shaved and they were washed with cow milk. In Kenya, the African Medical and Research Foundation is fighting against female genital mutilation. After Because circumcision goes hand-in-hand with marriage, we ask these men to refuse to marry circumcised girls. She says, "Female circumcision is our culture. It would bring a curse to the entire community.. if she says no the that ok. Lloyd, I appreciate your perspectives. A Capital FM Kenya. Also, such taboos train and prepare warriors In the following pages, four Maasai women discuss their feelings about FGM. Maasai Female Circumcision Dance 130,156 views Mar 17, 2007 This is a dance by the Maasai of Kenya to celebrate the circumcision of a girl (12 yrs old.) After MED also has initiated a program to involve the men. Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. Amidst the veldt and scrub, men talked, drank, and danced occasionally. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She is represented by Echo photo agency. This chair becomes a man's friend until it is broken. the society. Because my parents are Christian, I was not circumcised. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Maasai believe that the practice helps reduce immorality among girls because they are not allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision. The girl first bathes with cold water, and then the operation is carried out. rite of passage helped Maasai persons to find their place in They tell us that unless we stop the practice, we are all going to be prosecuted. The procedure ranges from snipping off a piece of the clitoris to the removal of all external genitalia and can lead to a litany of health issues, from urination problems, cysts and infections to severe bleeding, infertility or complications during childbirth. in the cold weather and receive a cold shower to cleanse himself. It is hard, however, for them to tell others about the negative effects because they will be considered to have betrayed our culture. - female circumcision stock videos & royalty-free footage . unfortunate. to combine the Kenya national flag and the Maasai flag.) the camp. Maasai man walking to the forest to help others bring slaughtered animals to the village. This because they are disbarred from the world of warrior hood. It is supposed to reduce a womans desire for sex and reduce immorality. than one wife, it is the older wife's responsibility to shave Ceremonies and Rituals. initiation elevates an individual from childhood healing process will take 3-4 months, and boys must remain in 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. Fire Circumcision is no longer legal, and maternity care is offered to women. The Maasai are not alone: many other Kenyan tribes circumcise girls as a mark of maturity from childhood. present. But twelve years later, the . his age set. As a male who had 90% of his pleasure nerves crushed off with my entire foreskin and frenulum, I hate all these barbaric rituals. After Mela grabbed me she led me to a place behind the corral where the women were gathered. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. Even though female circumcision is an outdated practice, it is hard for a person to leave his or her way of life and adopt a new one. Hi, this is Jing. First of all, they prepare the frame using some wooden poles, and then plaster it with water, mud, and cow dung. The boys are accompanied by A few minutes later, it was time to dance or rather to practice. form age-sets moving them closer to adulthood. Three important leaders Writer, speaker, storyteller and consultant. The father of the girls, along with his four wives, will be marked with okra during the ritual. for the duration of its existence. Every man is honored with an elder's chair in this The fixer explained that Koutaniemi, 26, might use her pictures in campaigns against FGM/C, but emphasized they would present the reality of the tradition and allow viewers to form their own opinions. Before the ceremony, the Olopolosi The procedures were done in the girls homes, where they would stay for four weeks to recover and tend to wounds that continually scab, break and bleed. Required fields are marked *. For the first time, warriors feel Circumcision is con .more .more. Warriors who violated The traditional house of a Maasai family is round or oval and built completely by women. An entire cow whose skin and bones lay deflated, discarded just a few meters away. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital stage of life is a transition to an elder. 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. I could not imagine how long they were going to celebrate, but I knew about how long the circumcised girls were going to have to take to heal. Meanwhile, a line of Maasai warriors gathered in a straight line, their warrior shouts punctuating the once still air. She is currently enrolled in computer studies at Maasai Education Discovery. It is performed And this is just the way they dress up on the way to a party. Meeri Koutaniemi is a Finnish freelance photojournalist working in Helsinki and abroad on international projects. transitioning to a senior warrior. The two films together illustrate the important differences between the contexts of male and female genital-cutting among the Maasai. Such social taboos are established by the Maasai to She touched my arm gently and started to pray for me. Most painfully, I have heard of girls from my community as young as 10 years old undergoing circumcision and being married. sit on the chair and be shaved by his wife. 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 room was dark, save for a flashlight brandished by a child. Isina says she is not afraid of the consequences of the circumcision. American Circumcision | movie | 2017 | Official Trailer. The traditional rite of FGM among the Maasai is performed between the ages of 12 and 14. Animals were slaughtered for the feast that night. Unable to stay with the girls, who were sick and inconsolable, Koutaniemi left the next day. are randomly selected by warriors. Above: Nasirian sits still and silent in her home. 32 minutes ago. Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. These strategies work. Local woman maneuvered amidst the growing crowd with grace and agility and respectfully left space for others, as I spun around disoriented, the clumsy interloper. The The thing that happened to me was circumcision in its 20th century form, which was adopted from the nutty views of a Rabbi who thought that all men were uncontrollable sexual deviants. Fascinating insight. A girl is not expected to weep; this is meant to show that she is brave enough to face the knife. their age set taboos and laws are punished before this event Will they reconcile? Now if you want to do this then go for it but if not stand your ground and say no. With ten years after warriorhood. is a warriors camp (kraal) with 30 to 40 houses. and Irmolelian (clans); however, it is common Education is a powerful tool for all of us to reexamine and question those beliefs, and to change those that no longer serve us, or even to our detriment sometimes. 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. Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before their planned circumcision. Needles to age set. Nasirian rests a few hours after the circumcision. They agreed because they thought it was worth sharing what they call an honorable tradition, as long as Koutaniemi didnt use real names, identify the villagers or publish the work in Kenya. The real moves were for the benefit of the women of the village. Copyright 2022 CycleHarmony All rights reserved. The Masaai Circumcision Ritual (2005) Film makers: Dante Montagaliani, Roger Eaton, Michael Tombeur, Mattias Nyberg High Definition Sony HVR-Z1U Locations: Maralal District, Kenya Production Co. Mad Pig Productions Upload, livestream, and create your own videos, all in HD. this time because, occasionally, the battle can get very serious. Men scattered; meat was grabbed, pulled, torn and cut from the makeshift lattice-work grill stretched across a segment of creek bed. man, by carrying a heavy spear, herding large herd of livestock, Cultural Survival, Inc. is a non-profit organization with federal 501(c)(3) status. Facts They did it every day while their wives waited for them at home, taking care of their children. no longer undergo through circumcision. Circumcision is a cultural practice in the Maasai community, not a religious practice. Evelyn Nashipae Nkadori graduated from the Moi Girls Secondary School Isinya in 2003. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. eat alone without the company ofothers. No In response, the men laughed in anticipation of how much a fool I would make of myself. Why should we be forced to abandon it when we were born into it? Personally Im all about tradation and as a african american male I think tradation is deeply important. They started to sing and dance, slowly approaching the first house where there was a circumcised girl or boy. Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. camp), which is performed in a selected camp that contains ten Remember the first party you ever attended as a kid? I was afraid to ask what the second step might be on the path to becoming a warrior. As the world marks the annual International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on Feb. 6, the U.N.s commitment to ending a practice it calls a violation of the human rights of girls and women, its worth remembering just how far away that goal remains. Koutaniemi said she took these pictures to remind the world that FGM/C happens every daywhether or not theres a photographer to record itand plans to keep documenting its effects on girls and women in other countries. on senior warriors will be discussed later in this page. Despite maybe being hard to immerse in at the start. Marriage was about the deal between a girl's and boy's fathers. Do you have that hand disinfectant with you?. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 Luckily more and more girls are becoming educated about their rights and are standing up for themselves and saying no to this ridiculous tradition. Evelyn Nashipae Nkadori MED student from the Magadi Division in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Be nice, don't steal. Maasai people are among the most well known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs, dress and warrior traditions. It is right for a wife After enkipaata ceremony, boys are ready for the most Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. This wasn't a performance for my benefit, it was all theirs. Video: Maasai Celebration, Singing and Dancing A Maasai Circumcision After-Party: Singing, Dancing, Good Times Share Watch on Goodbye Kisioki tugged at each of us, indicating we had to leave; it was late and the sun would soon set. But if the Maasai community were to be informed of the disadvantages of female circumcision, I believe the practice could be eliminated gradually. However, even though the government To drink outside the camp is allowed but only if women are not "You hear of girls who die, but there is . Maasai believed a woman could not get pregnant without a circumcision, and if she somehow did, the baby would die. 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