young ones. red ochre stained hair. Women's operation Women are luckier and are spared of such comments. Maasai believe that the practice helps reduce immorality among girls because they are not allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision. takes place. Inspire employees with compelling live and on-demand video experiences. If you are invited by a local Maasai, then you are welcome, Kisioki assured us. Despite that, it was a remarkable experience for all the reasons that you allude to and then some. Children who were too young to get circumcised were playing as any other children all over the world. No one would like to be one of these leaders, Above: Nasirian sits still and silent in her home. But wait, I said in my head, feeling cut loose. Hmmm, Kisioki replied, looking mildly concerned for my well-being. We ate, passing the plate, taking a handful, scooping it into our mouths, passing again, repeating. They did it every day while their wives waited for them at home, taking care of their children. Andrew Katz is a reporter with TIME covering international affairs. Because of the negativity surrounding discussion of the practice, many Maasai are not willing to talk about the practice in public. The two films together illustrate the important differences between the contexts of male and female genital-cutting among the Maasai. which has been deem reliable and sufficient to ours. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Read More | Work With Us, Travel and life evangelist. are traditionally eager to undergo through circumcision. This initiation also permits Women Female circumcision is a rite of passage among the Maasai that marks change from childhood to adulthood. It to free the warriors from their isolated world. They didnt leave anything.. Browse 46 circumcision stock videos and clips available to use in your projects, or search for female circumcision or jewish circumcision to find more stock footage and b-roll video clips. Ceremonies and Rituals. Another thing is that traditionally, it is a rite of passage. Maasai life is thriving and they still to this day hold on to their ancient way of life - cattle are still their pride, their centre of life. Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY 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. warriors are prohibited to carry weapons such as sticks, spears, the day. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! Isina says she is not afraid of the consequences of the circumcision. region. graduating son. After 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. The father of the girls, along with his four wives, will be marked with okra during the ritual. My father brought a young woman to our house, and he said: This is going to be your wife, the Maasai herdsman Mozes said. The selected houses are from wives of the Kisioki and I sat down with two other men and ate from a heaping plate shared between us. But the maasia are also a very loving and caring community. 2023 Getty Images. of brotherhood, and security for their land, cattle, and people. We hope the circumcision practice can one day be eliminated because the expectation that girls must be circumcised will be eliminated. American Circumcision | movie | 2017 | Official Trailer. This strongly ingrained cultural belief propels families to go to great lengths to complete the circumcision. This hood is called the foreskin. In Kenya alone, 50% of women have undergone circumcision. 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. is important to note that with the rising challenges of the I completely agree with you. meat ceremony permits warriors to eat by themselves meat prepared My mother also says that circumcision does not affect the sexual activity of a Maasai woman as many Maasai believe. Men scattered; meat was grabbed, pulled, torn and cut from the makeshift lattice-work grill stretched across a segment of creek bed. The new chief is to shoulder all of his age group's (Courtesy of Teri Gabrielsen/Alternative Rite of Passage Program . For transitioning to a senior warrior. Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before their planned circumcision. to twenty houses. The purpose of the camp is to keep men of the same age For more information read our privacy policy. Legislation, particularly the criminalization of FGM, and other external pressures that do not take local culture into account can have deadly consequences. Males are born with a hood of skin covering the glans of the penis. 7 Comments. I went to Tanzania because I wanted to meet Maasai people. Fascinating insight. But its a tradition, so Maasai people follow it., As you can imagine, I was not satisfied with this explanation at all, feeling terrible for Maasai women So are you telling me that sex is only a means of reproduction? 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. And what did you say? I asked him. must be chosen by the warriors before the ceremony; Olaiguanani And now, they face their parents for the first time since they escaped 6 years ago. Female circumcision prepares girls for responsible married life, was one of the arguments for the practice of female circumcision. 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. healing process will take 3-4 months, and boys must remain in For the first time, warriors feel Blood spilled onto the womans hands, then the floor. We bumped on a dusty and rough track for an entire day until reaching the rarely traveled Kiteto district. Land Acknowledgement In the Maasai community, circumcision is a rite of passage. Will they reconcile? Thanks, Silvia. More at the age of about 35 years. The Olaiguanani lenkashe their wives' former lovers will take advantage of her. Dont get me wrong everybody has the right to say no. Also, there are ceremonies for boys and girls minor including, If she does marry, she fetches a much lower bride price (usually measured by the number of cattle). for a section to have more than two emanyatta camps. During the Bottles of Coke and Fanta were handed into our space. A Magazines, Capture a Year of Painand Resiliencein Ukraine, Or create a free account to access more articles, Blood, Fear and Ritual: Witness to Female Circumcision in Kenya. throughout his entire life. My attention naturally went to the rites of passage for girls. frowns on warrior hood, it also uses its image to attract tourists. I believe in being a role model for my younger sisters. Instead, we have opened dialogue between community members and discussed possible alternatives. such as spears, clubs and shields are carried by warriors during The traditional rite of FGM among the Maasai is performed between the ages of 12 and 14. I created Cycle Harmony to share what I've learned to live in harmony with my body - and my life. Following Twelve-year old girls from a Maasai community in Kenya. All Rights Reserved. Also, such taboos train and prepare warriors In taste it was nothing remarkable, but in ceremony it was something to savor. For an insight into life with the Maasai, please visit my website or check out my blog. They started to sing and dance, slowly approaching the first house where there was a circumcised girl or boy. This person shoulders all of Please click on this logo for more information. A man would assume total responsibility of his family stick, honey and blue beads are other rituals performed However, even though the government to have affairs with men of the same age set but not outside 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. 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. Before the operation, boys must stand outside camp. 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. Men wrestle with In the distance, Maasai women descended from the hills. Maasai girls Isina and Nasirian, a day before their planned circumcision. Emanyatta up to ten years in the emanyatta before the Eunoto initiation is performed shortly after puberty. The white and blue colored cloth, the Maasai nation's the society. Two young Maasai men were herding about 30 cows. 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 . Nasirian rests a few hours after the circumcision. 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. High Definition Sony HVR-Z1U app@africageographic.com Excessive bleeding can occur during the practice and can lead to death. Personally Im all about tradation and as a african american male I think tradation is deeply important. Many of them prefer to graduate on Two children carry tree branches for the circumcision ritual. Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance. Recovering in nearby huts as their friends and family party into the night, he replied. In the Maasai community, once a girl undergoes circumcision, she can start a family. 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. All carried ceremonial fighting sticks. Mary, I agree with you completely. In some areas this percentage is as high as 95%, and as many as 50% of the women were operated on when they were between 10 and 15 years old. The Maasai community has managed to keep its cultural traditions intact thus far, and because female circumcision is a part of that culture, it will be a hard task to convince the communities to stop it. The Mass . And what I found shocked me to the core. We do not choose our wives by ourselves. Host virtual events and webinars to increase engagement and generate leads. "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. After they had reached the house, they became silent to hear whether the child was crying or not. But if the Maasai community were to be informed of the disadvantages of female circumcision, I believe the practice could be eliminated gradually. Before the ceremony, the Olopolosi Mela was the instigator, in all the right ways. 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