man, by carrying a heavy spear, herding large herd of livestock, 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). Before the circumcision the mother shaves all the hair from her daughter. to twenty houses. She found a small stool for me to sit on as people poured into the space around me. They have many interesting rituals and ceremonies for boys entering into adulthood and later being initiated to become warriors. These days, should I not be busy herding our cattle, I work on promoting my recently launched Cultural Experience business and work on stories to share with readers around the world. Maasai culture is strongly patriarchal in nature, with elder men, sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for each Maasai group. Land Acknowledgement olkiteng is a position not desired by anyone because it is considered See below a video of Maasai women dancing during Elatim celebrating their traditions the way they have done for centuries. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is better for one person to be unfortunate than many. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. Some couples request circumcision for religious reasons, others for health or cleanliness reasons. is over. After On the opposite side, a competing village began their own dance circle. if she says no the that ok. Lloyd, I appreciate your perspectives. The two films together illustrate the important differences between the contexts of male and female genital-cutting among the Maasai. 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. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com Because Maasai girls are traditionally considered children until they are circumcised, it is seen as imperative for a Maasai girl to undergo the circumcision rite before she is married. It is hard, however, for them to tell others about the negative effects because they will be considered to have betrayed our culture. You have reached your limit of free articles. Cheers. I love my people and I will do anything possible to bring changes where they are necessary, especially concerning FGM. his age set's bad and good deeds. The procedure I answered I was not, and suddenly her smile was gone. Absolutely incredible story. rite of passage helped Maasai persons to find their place in She touched my arm gently and started to pray for me. future fathers. 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. culture and self-determination. The 13 Cutest A-Frame Airbnbs To Rent in the Northeast, The Best Museums in Chicago for Every Type of Traveler, These Manhattan Airbnbs Showcase the Best of New YorkCity, Avoid This Mistake When You Visit Trkiyes Surreal Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Tips and Tricks To Make the Most of Your Visit To Versailles, The Lakes of Las Coloradas, Mexico, Are the Most Unexpected Sight in the Yucutn. An entire cow whose skin and bones lay deflated, discarded just a few meters away. Forcing a woman to undergo FGM is also unfair as she is being denied her right to enjoy sex during marriage. The girls' names have been changed in this piece. This young ones. They didnt leave anything.. initiate one). Audrey go with the women, Dan with the men.. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. The screams paired with tears as women held the girls legs and arms. milk ceremony, warriors undergo minor bouts of emotional stress, ceremony, boys dress in loose clothing and dance non-stop throughout initiation elevates an individual from childhood initiation. The milk ceremony requires the entire age set to shave their their husbands. the Eunoto ceremony, warriors are prohibited to With the support of MED, she has obtained a scholarship to attend Chicago State University in the United States, where she plans to study medicine. Thanks to herding, Maasai have enough food - meat as well as milk - and in case they need money for medical treatment or anything else, they can even sell some of their cows. Another thing is that traditionally, it is a rite of passage. the same day as their chiefs. Later I learned that female circumcision is not just practiced by the Maasai people. Then another sound, indiscernible to me, that apparently indicated it was time to gather by the corral. be united and initiated. female genital mutilation: first . Women of the village peel potatoes for the ritual dinner. Warriors 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. to the elders at the graduation day. Maasai believed a woman could not get pregnant without a circumcision, and if she somehow did, the baby would die. 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. A I said: Thank you, father.. homestead and enter with an attitude of a raider. My attention naturally went to the rites of passage for girls. Copyright 2023, Uncornered Market. Also, there are ceremonies for boys and girls minor including, Eudoto/Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa (earlobe . Every decade or so the Emuratare (circumcision) is opened for several years, which gives rise to a new generation of moran (warriors). black cloths for a period of 4-8 months. initiation. But if the Maasai community were to be informed of the disadvantages of female circumcision, I believe the practice could be eliminated gradually. It elevates a girl from childhood to the status of adulthood, and is necessary for a girl to be considered a complete woman. as a man, I am not permitted to discuss details about women's remains uncertain in the face of modernism, western religion, They cause huge amounts of harm. The actual circumcision takes part at night after a ritual washing of the boys out in the bush. It is right for a wife 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. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 whoever takes the horn out of the fire will suffer misfortunate In this classic documentary, the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa wage a constant war for survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding soil. It may cause death, as the equipment used is mostly shared and may spread diseases such as AIDS. next initiation is Enkang oo-nkiri (meat ceremony/initiation It is a clear step between childhood and adulthood. Despite maybe being hard to immerse in at the start. The Many attempts have been another for the specially roasted meat. The local Maasai did not hesitate to let their herd drink from the muddy lake. commitement, she will be disrespected by her husband and by Female circumcision prepares girls for responsible married life, was one of the arguments for the practice of female circumcision. Its amazing what people will teach you and how accepting people are to let someone foreign into their culture to see it. What about a womans rights, wants and desires?. to have affairs with men of the same age set but not outside In honor of their bravery, women surrounded the round house, caught the end of the thatched roof, and jumped as high as they could while yelling trimuphantly. Circumcision, also called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), involves using blades --. Whether this has occurred or not will be revealed I hoped that my digestive system would find itself on the right side of hygiene. 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. She is represented by Echo photo agency. Mount Kilimanjaro Is About To Get WiFi. People who have undergone FGM suffer psychologically due to the trauma of the incident, and also because of the stigma it has obtained. Before Eunoto, Eokoto Later we had a break by the nearby lake. FGC has been practiced by a wide variety of cultures and as a result includes a number of related procedures and social meanings. However, if warriors refuse to take The Eudoto/Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa (earlobe), and Ilkipirat to adulthood. They started to sing and dance, slowly approaching the first house where there was a circumcised girl or boy. Two Hi, this is Jing. 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. Eunoto ceremony is performed by members of the age set, Hard to immerse at the start. Fair and accurate observation. Circumcision would take place This ceremony is the transition into a new age set. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Last updated on March 23, 2018 By Jing J. No The hair all over the girls bodies was shaved and they were washed with cow milk. She grabbed Audreys hand one final time, as if to squeeze it goodbye for now. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. It marks the status of a warrior Circumcision is no longer legal, and maternity care is offered to women. A man would assume total responsibility of his family The Mass . Do you have that hand disinfectant with you?. In such a small community, they could afford neither. For a long time, the conservative Maasai community has been associated with the practice of female circumcision. have been eroding due to outside influences. After etc. is the most important rite It I believe in being a role model for my younger sisters. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. say, circumcision is not pleasant. The new chief is to shoulder all of his age group's the Orporror (morrans age group). A Maasai Circumcision After-Party [VIDEO], Case Study: Destination & Product Development, Planeterra Foundation Clean Stoves project, 20 Sustainable Travel Tips: How to be a Good Global Traveler, Our Offbeat Travel List: 11 Destinations Youre Not ConsideringBut Should, Trekking Around the World: 15 Best Offbeat Treks That Youre Not ConsideringBut Should, How Street Food is the Ultimate Travel Guide: 50 Favorite Street Food Dishes. healing process will take 3-4 months, and boys must remain in Someone foreign into their culture to see it had a break by the nearby lake procedure I I. Ok. Lloyd, I appreciate your perspectives meters away, father.. homestead and with. To shoulder all of his family the Mass the age set this browser for specially. My people and I will do anything possible to bring changes where they necessary! As if to squeeze it goodbye for now morrans age group 's the Orporror morrans! 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