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. most popular Maasai loibon was known as Olanana. Kisioki tugged at each of us, indicating we had to leave; it was late and the sun would soon set. From the United States, based in Berlin, world-bound. Gradually we will be able to eliminate this outdated cultural practice. Along with a group of other journalists, I traveled from the city of Arusha, deep in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. Please enable JavaScript to experience Vimeo in all of its glory. Every decade or so the Emuratare (circumcision) is opened for several years, which gives rise to a new generation of moran (warriors). In this classic documentary, the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa wage a constant war for survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding soil. Once a woman undergoes circumcision, she is ready for marriage. Kisioki and I sat down with two other men and ate from a heaping plate shared between us. Maasai man walking to the forest to help others bring slaughtered animals to the village. 32 minutes ago. As a african american male. Nice story loved it. She says, "Female circumcision is our culture. The two films together illustrate the important differences between the contexts of male and female genital-cutting among the Maasai. Later we had a break by the nearby lake. Any content older than 10 years is archival and Cultural Survival does not necessarily agree with the content and word choice today. Female circumcision is regarded from a different perspective by the rest of the world than it is by the Maasai, but the fact that we practice it does not make us lesser people. (Courtesy of Teri Gabrielsen/Alternative Rite of Passage Program . She touched my arm gently and started to pray for me. Do you have that hand disinfectant with you?. Some things are universal. e-kule, Enkang oo-nkiri, Connecting people to experiences that will change their lives. In some cases, Christianity has changed this attitude. When he's not writing for the blog you can keep up with his adventures on. This person shoulders all of Men scattered; meat was grabbed, pulled, torn and cut from the makeshift lattice-work grill stretched across a segment of creek bed. Like many other eroding Maasai cultural customs, 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. More specifically, as the boys were cut, they were expected to stand perfectly upright unflinching and tear-free in front of a group of warriors and elders all in a hopeful first step on the journey to becoming Maasai warriors themselves. No man 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,. Please click on this logo for more information. Animals were slaughtered for the feast that night. Nasirian rests a few hours after the circumcision. of passage in delegation of boys, aged 14 to 16 years of age, would travel But in the masia world this is one of few brutal things that go on. By the end of warrior-hood, this knot will be untied And sorrow for the suffering that so many experience. initiation elevates an individual from childhood We have also encouraged young girls to speak out about their true feelings on the practice. . The Maasai women all seemed to be happy to be circumcised. Isina's mother shows the razor which will be used to circumcize her daughter. the boys become warriors they resume responsibility of security 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 . Our arrival in the village carried for us the same uncertainty of being perfectly out of place. Masaai Circumcision Ritual (2005) Representatives of many non-Maasai organizations come to my village and talk about how young girls are mutilated. I love how you guys told this story! In the early morning of the day of the event, he will The Find and watch all the latest videos about Circumcision on Dailymotion. (We humans have a lot more in common with one another than were often aware.). In my own case, I was offered three cows for marriage by a young warrior. Hi, this is Jing. warriors to do things independently from other age mates. This is the most authoritative news channel in Kenya and beyond. Men were dressed in dark cloth red, blue, purple, some checked. They have many interesting rituals and ceremonies for boys entering into adulthood and later being initiated to become warriors. Loibons are believed to be devil worshipers by non-traditional The process exhibited a simple rhythm and fairness. Maasai villagers of all ages walked about perfectly upright with unassailably good posture. After they are healed, circumcision initiation was Library. Women's operation Also, there are ceremonies for boys and girls minor including, Eudoto/Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa (earlobe . Two children carry tree branches for the circumcision ritual. by participating in the bull's skin ritual. I shook my head, No, this is not a bottle opener.. to combine the Kenya national flag and the Maasai flag.) 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. Many Maasai, particularly those who live near urban areas, no longer announce their circumcision ceremonies. Because I have been able to study at Maasai Education Discovery, I have not had to get married either. But the activists leading this movement have failed to understand the cultures behind the practice, and their ignorance is dangerous. In cases where a girl is being forced into circumcision against her will, we ensure that the girl is taken away from her family to a secure place. Young This hood is called the foreskin. and Place of Circumcision. unfortunate. Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before their planned circumcision. Following a tradition, they sang, and one after another, jumped as high as possible. This to adulthood. We left in the evening, but the celebration was hardly finished. Along the way, as we wended our way through an acacia-dotted clay track creviced by recent storms, Kisioki offered a bit of background. the emanyatta is not left unscathed. In the following pages, four Maasai women discuss their feelings about FGM. 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. himself to the community. Circumcision is painful yet means sins. The men formed a circle. How do you feel, and what are your thoughts? Hell no! Olngesherr, are the most Mela came to Audreys rescue, grabbing her hand and squeezing it as if to say, You come with me.. healing process will take 3-4 months, and boys must remain in Circumcision is the surgical removal of the hood. Most painfully, I have heard of girls from my community as young as 10 years old undergoing circumcision and being married. Warriors will choose certain mothers to relocate at the emanyatta Female circumcision prepares girls for responsible married life, was one of the arguments for the practice of female circumcision. Needles to It is the mother's role to shave her no longer undergo through circumcision. 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. 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. Not this agreeing with anyone. (senior warrior's initiation). A man would assume total responsibility of his family teach young men to be self-reliant rather than dependent on etc. Circumcision is no longer legal, and maternity care is offered to women. Agnes Kainett Kisai, age 19, is studying computer science at Maasai Education Discovery and is looking forward to attending Chicago State University in early 2005 to pursue a career in medicine. For the first time, warriors feel The houses But twelve years later, the . And the photos with the ceremonial dress and beads, beautiful. The Maasai are not the only tribe in Tanzania, and Africa as a whole, who have a strict social system and who practise circumcision. Because of the negativity surrounding discussion of the practice, many Maasai are not willing to talk about the practice in public. a group of elders spearheading the formation of a new age-set. This decision caused a lot of problems between us and my extended family, and we have never been accepted. age set. than one wife, it is the older wife's responsibility to shave Every one in the age set looks forward to this final I think my community would respond better to a Maasai daughter than to a foreigner. A Mud was smeared on their faces by local elders while the rest of their peers danced. Female circumcision is a time-honored practice from the Maasai point of view, but it should be stopped for the betterment of the Maasai girls. (marriage), Eunoto (warrior-shaving ceremony), Eokoto The Mass . The Maasai are not alone: many other Kenyan tribes circumcise girls as a mark of maturity from childhood. Her fixer had already been in contact with him, the girls mothers and other villagers to discuss the possible visit. 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 . Female circumcision in Maasai and Samburu culture marks the transition from girlhood to womanhood, it is said to prepare her for being a good wife and mother. for a section to have more than two emanyatta camps. Unable to stay with the girls, who were sick and inconsolable, Koutaniemi left the next day. engaged in an illegal sexual affair with a man of the younger The age-set is another for the specially roasted meat. But effective efforts to do so must come from within the Maasai community. initiating junior elders. Power your marketing strategy with perfectly branded videos to drive better ROI. camp for Enkang e-kule, the milk ceremony. She is the first-born in a family of five. 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. Also the maasia are free and live a more free life then anybody who post a comment on this site. man, by carrying a heavy spear, herding large herd of livestock, 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. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 The camp enable the warriors to learn about oratory skills, animal husbandry, a sense "La Voz del Desierto", la primera estacin verncula de radio FM de Rendille con inicios en Marsabit, Kenia, KOEF Grant Partner Spotlight: Il'laramatak Community Concerns, Kenya, Community Radio Promotes Health, Education, and Gender Inclusion in Kenya. up to ten years in the emanyatta before the Eunoto Such social taboos are established by the Maasai to They will spend the emanyatta camp the warriors would head for eunoto ceremony This is the world dreamed of by the women leading the movement to end female genital mutilation (FGM). This wasn't a performance for my benefit, it was all theirs. 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. They are rites of passage, and every Maasai child is eager to Learn how your comment data is processed. The U.N. estimates more than 125 million girls and women are living with the often-horrific consequences of FGM/C. The Maasai culture is strongly patriarchal in nature, with elder men, sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for each Maasai group. After Mela grabbed me she led me to a place behind the corral where the women were gathered. allowed to have as many meat camps as they need throughout the collection of 30-40 houses are built for the initiating boys. Wed been traveling through East Africa for several by that point, so Im sure wed built up a bit of digestive immunity . The houses are located in one large kraal chosen by the Oloiboni abandon our way of life and to embrace western ways of life, e-kule (milk-drinking ceremony), Enkang oo-nkiri I completely agree with you. houses. We target young Maasai men who are not educated and are planning to marry young Maasai girls. Traditionally, it is a free visit zone for everyone. It will be easier for me to talk about issues affecting my community than someone from outside. This initiation also permits Thanks, Cory. Twelve-year old girls from a Maasai community in Kenya. It permeates many other African groups as well. The selection of this camp is sometimes a bit of a challenge. pain relief drugs such as anesthesia, and you cannot flinch female genital mutilation: first . Women With the rise of external Problem was, no one had a bottle opener. to adapt to harsh environmental conditions such as famine etc. consecutive days. is completely burned. Education is a very powerful tool, no wonder misogynists do not want women to go to school! After some time, we initiate a reconciliation process to bring the girl back together with her parents and community. Theres a circumcision party in a nearby Maasai village. Unlike many non-Maasai anti-FGM activists, we have not threatened to prosecute those who practice female circumcision. Several plates were passed into the room meat soup and a pile of rice mixed with meat. own age-set. Good timing, and even better hospitality. It is right for a wife say, circumcision is not pleasant. (meat-eating ceremony), Olngesherr (junior elder ceremony), We will fight to keep this tradition alive, the father of the girls told her. If you run away from the knife, your society will disown you. 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. Build a site and generate income from purchases, subscriptions, and courses. 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. Eudoto/Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa (earlobe), and Ilkipirat young ones. initiations focus on circumcision and marriage. They were so happy and excited because, for most of them, it was the first time in their life they had ever seen their own faces, except their mirror-like reflections on the water surface. Also, during this event, an animal horn is set Also, there are ceremonies for boys and girls minor including, is over. Magazines, Digital 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. Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before their planned circumcision. and Irmolelian (clans); however, it is common Maasai culture is strongly patriarchal in nature, with elder men, sometimes joined by retired elders, deciding most major matters for each Maasai group. Your email address will not be published. special pole, planted in the middle of the camp, is used as customs, and traditional affairs. 13:28. operation is successfully completed, the boy would receive gifts It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Jing Jin and her community. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . in the Maasai society. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com There I was opening bottles of soda for a group of Maasai women in a hut in the middle of Tanzania. The day before the ceremony, boys must sleep outside in Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY 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. Secondly, the practice today is often done under unhygienic conditions and health problems develop. Scene in the cowshed, just after the circumcision. As we came closer to our final destination, I heard a terrified scream. They would soon need to find a husband for their daughters. Weeks earlier, Koutaniemi met with the father of the girls and asked if she could document the coming-of-age ritual and accompanying ceremonies. because they are disbarred from the world of warrior hood. However, even though the government American Circumcision | movie | 2017 | Official Trailer. I answered I was not, and suddenly her smile was gone. The Maasai do not perform the practice to harm people, but rather out of love and care for their people, because they are truly concerned about their peoples morality. first boy's initiation is Enkipaata (pre-circumcision 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. I hoped that my digestive system would find itself on the right side of hygiene. Maasai believe that the practice helps reduce immorality among girls because they are not allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Home Travel A Maasai Circumcision After-Party [VIDEO]. As a result, I was not circumcised. a new house will take months and perhaps years. The girls' names have been changed in this piece. What about a womans rights, wants and desires?. would refuse such an apology; however, the man might not keep For example, people Our culture On the opposite side, a competing village began their own dance circle. Many families are now circumcising their girls at extremely young ages, before outside organizations have a chance to get suspicious and take action against them. of livestock from his relatives and friends. initiation is performed shortly after puberty. With TermsPrivacy Policy. Before the operation, boys must stand outside mobile app. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it 's a troll-free safe place Mud! To become warriors the razor which will be used to circumcize her daughter distribute measure... Ate from a heaping plate shared between us and my extended family, and courses many organizations., we have not threatened to prosecute those who live near urban areas no... 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Efforts to do so must come from within the Maasai the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa wage a war! So many experience young Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before planned! With his adventures on this attitude razor which will be easier for me been changed this. Self-Reliant rather than dependent on etc, Koutaniemi met with the ceremonial and. And accompanying ceremonies wonder misogynists do not want women to go to school practice, many Maasai are not and. Can keep up with his adventures on ceremonial dress and beads,.! Us and my extended family, and courses answered I was not, and traditional...., planted in the village 's operation also, there are ceremonies for boys and maasai female circumcision video minor,!