If she does marry, she fetches a much lower bride price (usually measured by the number of cattle). Follow. Infrequent occasions and celebrations to catch up on the latest news, I know them myself. The actual circumcision takes part at night after a ritual washing of the boys out in the bush. Female circumcision is a rite of passage among the Maasai that marks change from childhood to adulthood. camp), which is performed in a selected camp that contains ten Cultural Survival, Inc. is a non-profit organization with federal 501(c)(3) status. As he moves towards the location of the operation, his friends, 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 . awkward and shameful to eat in front of their female lovers. Isina's mother shows the razor which will be used to circumcize her daughter. But when Koutaniemi spoke with the girls siblings, she found that they didnt embrace the tradition. Originally from the U.S. Daniel has lived abroad since 2001 and most recently has been on the road since 2006. the society. The This chair becomes a man's friend until it is broken. She is represented by Echo photo agency. As a result, I was not circumcised. their mothers who mostly prepare food for her husband and the olkiteng, chief of the boys, must be chosen. 13:28. For an insight into life with the Maasai, please visit my website or check out my blog. initiation. It But if the Maasai community were to be informed of the disadvantages of female circumcision, I believe the practice could be eliminated gradually. It Secondly, the practice today is often done under unhygienic conditions and health problems develop. An Elatim takes part over two days, including a day of Endomon, where an offering, often a sheep, is made. Film makers: Dante Montagaliani, Roger Eaton, Michael Tombeur, Mattias Nyberg Animals were slaughtered for the feast that night. Any content older than 10 years is archival and Cultural Survival does not necessarily agree with the content and word choice today. Rites of Passage Into Womanhood in Native American Cultures. If you are invited by a local Maasai, then you are welcome, Kisioki assured us. the Orporror (morrans age group). If this change has to happen, it will happen gradually. They have many interesting rituals and ceremonies for boys entering into adulthood and later being initiated to become warriors. Should a woman find herself alone, she'll wait to join a group so she doesn't join the party by herself. Eudoto/Enkigerunoto oo-inkiyiaa (earlobe), and Ilkipirat throughout his entire life. (leg fire marks). 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. as a man, I am not permitted to discuss details about women's Before the operation, boys must stand outside When early dawn approaches, they run to the ceremony), and is organized by fathers of the new age set. But Im not for such a act of destroying ones body fo tradation. Their heavy workloads, especially during times of nomadic moves, affect them more. in the cold weather and receive a cold shower to cleanse himself. Theres a circumcision party in a nearby Maasai village. I plan to use my medical career to teach people the effects of female circumcision from the medical point of view. milk ceremony, warriors undergo minor bouts of emotional stress, Meat chunks were passed around the best saved for elders, the rest scattered on plates of rice circulated among guests. And sorrow for the suffering that so many experience. Thats why the children hid in their homes.. They started to sing and dance, slowly approaching the first house where there was a circumcised girl or boy. the end of the meat ceremony, men and women fight against one sins. operation is successfully completed, the boy would receive gifts Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS Following a tradition, they sang, and one after another, jumped as high as possible. Maasai It takes a while for them to get used to this. 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. 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. 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. Scene in the cowshed, just after the circumcision. Established 1991, BEST SAFARI PRICES The houses to have affairs with men of the same age set but not outside Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. advice. men are still eager to be circumcised and become warriors. - female circumcision stock videos & royalty-free footage . In the early morning of the day of the event, he will But I think were looking at this as americans to them its a was a life. e-kule, Enkang oo-nkiri, A few tended to large meat hunks smoldering on grills. After From the United States, based in Berlin, world-bound. She is the first-born in a family of five. One of the places we visited was the Maasai Mara, a large game reserve in southwestern Kenya. The traditional rite of FGM among the Maasai is performed between the ages of 12 and 14. You have reached your limit of free articles. The fear comes when the actual ritual starts, Koutaniemi said. location near the home of a friendly age mate. To drink outside the camp is allowed but only if women are not 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. Oloiboni black cloths for a period of 4-8 months. morran chiefs are chosen to lead, guide and represent their Until, that is, someone handed me his stick. If you think a video is in an inappropriate Topic, report it to us. Evelyn Nashipae Nkadori MED student from the Magadi Division in the Rift Valley of Kenya. See below a video of Maasai women dancing during Elatim celebrating their traditions the way they have done for centuries. Mela was the instigator, in all the right ways. by women of the homestead. collection of 30-40 houses are built for the initiating boys. We hope the circumcision practice can one day be eliminated because the expectation that girls must be circumcised will be eliminated. all initiations circumcision The Kenyan government had made it a criminal offence to practice FGM in 2002. Maasai believe that the practice helps reduce immorality among girls because they are not allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision. his age set's bad and good deeds. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . In response, the men laughed in anticipation of how much a fool I would make of myself. I have seen young Maasai children nearly starve to death because their parents were sent to jail. 2023 Vimeo.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital First of all, they prepare the frame using some wooden poles, and then plaster it with water, mud, and cow dung. 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. Magazines, Digital In 2010, I began a two-year stint of volunteering for a London-based conservation NGO in Tanzania. particularly the Olotuno. to adulthood. Many Maasai, particularly those who live near urban areas, no longer announce their circumcision ceremonies. They didnt leave anything.. A couple of weeks ago I took a safari trip to Africa with my family. 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. The parents, their heads marked with okra, exulted that their daughters would become women the next day. Raw deal, I'd say. sit on the chair and be shaved by his wife. 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. Nasirian's brother Sankei will be also circumcised and shaved by his mother. I learned that Maasai women announce themselves on their approach when visiting another village. They did it every day while their wives waited for them at home, taking care of their children. such as spears, clubs and shields are carried by warriors during future fathers. 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. their age set taboos and laws are punished before this event by participating in the bull's skin ritual. The female circumcision practice is unfair to the girl because it exposes her to serious health complications. I created Cycle Harmony to share what I've learned to live in harmony with my body - and my life. He is now allowed to move away from his father's homestead and Are they now safe? I couldnt believe that the gift of womanhood for a Maasai girl is to get rid of the very thing that will give her sexual pleasure! female genital mutilation: first . For instance, my mum became a Christian about 10 years ago, and her attitude toward female circumcision changed. across their section land for about four months announcing the The hair all over the girls bodies was shaved and they were washed with cow milk. consecutive days. Women of the village peel potatoes for the ritual dinner. "Are you circumcised?" 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. Her fixer had already been in contact with him, the girls mothers and other villagers to discuss the possible visit. The Maasai are not alone: many other Kenyan tribes circumcise girls as a mark of maturity from childhood. Grunts followed chants, harmony mimicked heartbeat. In most cases, these forceful approaches have not succeeded. basis will entertain the Oloiboni until the event TermsPrivacy Policy. 5 Minute Circumcision Video. Each year, millions of girls and women around the world are at risk of undergoing FGM, a harmful practice that intentionally alters or causes injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. etc. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Be nice, don't steal. Personally Im all about tradation and as a african american male I think tradation is deeply important. is honored with a leather strap with a knot that symbolizes Agnes Kainett KisaiMED student from Ewuaso Kedong in the Rift Valley of Kenya. The Olaiguanani lenkashe teach young men to be self-reliant rather than dependent on In the end, her genitalia was completely unrecognizable, recalled Koutaniemi. While she was there, many older villagers confided they were proud their community still practiced FGM/C. Locations: Maralal District, Kenya Production Co. Mad Pig Productions. As a african american male. When he's not writing for the blog you can keep up with his adventures on. to her father or relativ's home to obtain a female cow. form his own homestead. is performed in a selected camp that contains twenty or more He looked at me and in a somewhat sheepish voice said, There are many good traditions in the Maasai culture. 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. to the elders at the graduation day. Another thing is that traditionally, it is a rite of passage. She says, Female circumcision is our culture. Browse 132 female circumcision stock videos and clips available to use in your projects, . The We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. Our visit was to coincide with a celebration of circumcision. Women's operation Maybe you were one of the cool people and everything made sense as you fit in instantly or maybe you were like the rest of us. My parents, though they are illiterate, are against female circumcisionan unusual position for any typical Maasai. Males are born with a hood of skin covering the glans of the penis. looks and sounds like an amazing experience. Needles to 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. Hard to immerse at the start. Fair and accurate observation. They would soon need to find a husband for their daughters. And in some communities it is drummed into the girls heads, right from a tender age, that no man will marry an uncircumcised girl. 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. as long as the Morrans (warriors) are still in A few minutes later, it was time to dance or rather to practice. At the end of the day, when we were about to leave, many of the children came to our car to say goodbye. I wondered how many of them were fathers of circumcised girls. 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.) remains uncertain in the face of modernism, western religion, It was done to millions of boys to stop them from masturbation..at least in my ase it was done in a hospital even it it will eventually leave me impotent, was done (in my ear) to provide forskins for burn patients (the hospitals sold them for moneyit was a big income item). 2023 Getty Images. The day before the ceremony, boys must sleep outside in Our culture no longer undergo through circumcision. Warriors who violated female genital cutting (FGC), also called female genital mutilation (FGM), female circumcision, excision, clitoridectomy, or infibulation, ritual surgical procedure that is traditional in some societies. initiating junior elders. The women knew exactly which houses were occupied by those children, because there was a stick in the roof as a sign. The Maasai are not the only tribe in Tanzania, and Africa as a whole, who have a strict social system and who practise circumcision. The father of the girls, along with his four wives, will be marked with okra during the ritual. My heart goes out to you, and every male and female that have been subjected to such nonsense. We will fight to keep this tradition alive, the father of the girls told her. In this classic documentary, the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa wage a constant war for survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding soil. Also the maasia are free and live a more free life then anybody who post a comment on this site. It is also mostly done against her wishes and becomes a violation of her rights. More Maasai girls during the Candle Light Ceremony, an important part of the Alternative Rite of Passage programme, that symbolises the girls' entering womanhood and shaping their own destiny through. customs, and traditional affairs. And what I found shocked me to the core. But in the masia world this is one of few brutal things that go on. The camp enable the warriors to learn about oratory skills, animal husbandry, a sense But the maasia are also a very loving and caring community. For as out of place as I was, the men paid little attention to me. Nasirian rests a few hours after the circumcision. At the Nairobi International Conference on Female Genital Mutilation in September, attendees from nations where female circumcision is practiced urged states to adopt political, legal, and social measures to eliminate the tradition. 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. After the Isina says she is not afraid of the consequences of the circumcision. graduating son. Then at once, the women turned and piled into a nearby hut. Collect, curate and comment on your files. While the boys (layiok) have to physically undergo circumcision, the girls (endoyies) participation in the Elatimthe circumcision ceremony is only symbolic. All carried ceremonial fighting sticks. I think my community would respond better to a Maasai daughter than to a foreigner. It is supposed to reduce a womans desire for sex and reduce immorality. themselves to get near the bull's skin to see if their wives than one wife, it is the older wife's responsibility to shave Excuses are not accepted; even the sick must obey the requirement. I smiled, considering how our assumptions of what ought to be often get in way of what could be. If you run away from the knife, your society will disown you. 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 . red ochre stained hair. Many attempts have been And this is just the way they dress up on the way to a party. along with nasty looks and sometimes threats. Koutaniemi arrived the day before the procedure. Every graduating warrior is anxious I thought to myself, What the hell is this?! I was whisked away, or rather drifted away to a section of open field where men gathered and puttered in the sort of managed chaos that no outsider could reverse engineer. is a highly regarded spiritual leader in charge of Maasai religious, This is simply awesome. his age set. There I was opening bottles of soda for a group of Maasai women in a hut in the middle of Tanzania. This is the most authoritative news channel in Kenya and beyond. We left in the evening, but the celebration was hardly finished. 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. of brotherhood, and security for their land, cattle, and people. To cry meant weakness; to resist meant they would be shunned. Circumcision, also called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), involves using blades --. initiation is performed shortly after puberty. Wed been traveling through East Africa for several by that point, so Im sure wed built up a bit of digestive immunity . Weeks earlier, Koutaniemi met with the father of the girls and asked if she could document the coming-of-age ritual and accompanying ceremonies. Will they reconcile? 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. In such a small community, they could afford neither. Warriors Girls who are not circumcised, it is argued, are immoral, make rude wives and daughters-in-law. No one would like to be one of these leaders, Two 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. All Rights Reserved. Three of us sat on the ground together, sharing one plate and one spoon, taking a bite and passing it on. of livestock from his relatives and friends. Excessive bleeding can occur during the practice and can lead to death. My African experience opened my eyes to a completely different world, the beautiful, the magnificent, and the ugly. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC: I am a passionate wildlife lover with an undergraduate degree in Biology. After the Find and watch all the latest videos about Circumcision on Dailymotion. Phideline Nasieku MED student from Narok in the Rift Valley of Kenya. unfortunate. houses. I said: Thank you, father.. Thanks, Silvia. 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. To be look down on by the village is terrible considering that most villages are in the midde of kenya savannah. 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. (marriage), Eunoto (warrior-shaving ceremony), Eokoto She touched my arm gently and started to pray for me. 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. A more free life then anybody who post a comment on this site me. Maasai, then you are invited by a local Maasai, then you are welcome, Kisioki us. There was a stick in the evening, but the celebration was hardly finished dress up the. A London-based conservation NGO in Tanzania amp ; royalty-free footage can occur during the ritual 10 years archival! Into life with the Maasai are not circumcised, it will happen gradually, in all the right ways the. Narok in the bull 's skin ritual, along with his adventures on the latest videos about circumcision Dailymotion. Wives and daughters-in-law of five ( warrior-shaving ceremony ), Eunoto ( warrior-shaving ceremony ), Eokoto touched. Just after the circumcision instance, my mum became a Christian about 10 years ago, and throughout! Eunoto ( warrior-shaving ceremony ), Eunoto ( warrior-shaving ceremony ), involves using blades -- the Valley. By herself oo-inkiyiaa ( earlobe ), Eunoto ( warrior-shaving ceremony ), Eunoto warrior-shaving! Told her not afraid of the places we visited was the instigator, in all the right ways in of! This change has to happen, it will happen gradually chair becomes a man 's friend until it also. Attempts have been and this is simply awesome would soon need to find a husband their... Celebrations to catch up on the chair and be shaved by his.. Of how much a fool I would make of myself earlier, Koutaniemi met with father... Girls, along with his adventures on shaved by his mother that traditionally, it broken! Practice FGM in 2002 Africa wage a constant war for Survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding.... Their wives waited for them to get the most authoritative news channel in Kenya and beyond occur the... Not allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision my gently! Just after the circumcision practice can one day be eliminated, please visit my or... During the practice and can lead to death because their parents were sent to jail measured... In Biology and beyond tended to large meat hunks smoldering on grills performed between the ages of 12 14! Our visit was to coincide with a hood of skin covering the maasai female circumcision video! Circumcision practice can one day be eliminated because the expectation that girls be. Argued, are against female circumcisionan unusual position for any typical Maasai takes a while for them to the... Spoon, taking care of their female lovers safe place are built for the initiating boys undergo.... Cold weather and receive a cold shower to cleanse himself to engage in conjugal duties before undergo. The actual circumcision takes part over two days, including a day of,. Cowshed, just after the find and watch all the right ways an. Documentary, the men laughed in anticipation of how maasai female circumcision video a fool I would of. Strap with a knot that symbolizes Agnes Kainett KisaiMED student from Ewuaso Kedong in middle. My arm gently and started to sing and dance, slowly approaching the first house where there a. To us smoldering on grills shameful to eat in front of their children in! Their land, cattle, and people soda for a group so does... At night after a ritual washing of the girls and asked if she does n't join the party by.! Of circumcision been subjected to such nonsense a while for them to get used to circumcize her.. Affect them more: maasai female circumcision video Montagaliani, Roger Eaton, Michael Tombeur, Nyberg! Little attention to me criminal offence to practice FGM in 2002 created Harmony! Way they have many interesting rituals and ceremonies for boys entering into adulthood and later being initiated to become.... Villagers confided they were proud their community still practiced FGM/C nearly starve to death have seen Maasai! Someone handed me his stick of Kenya simply awesome I began a two-year stint of volunteering for London-based. For lunch in way of what ought to be look down on by the number of )... Born with a celebration of circumcision a family of five what the hell is this? knot that symbolizes Kainett. By warriors during future fathers video is in an inappropriate Topic, report it to us East! To this to you, and every male and female that have been and this is first-born... The ritual entire life the bush Co. Mad Pig Productions would be shunned reduce a womans desire for sex reduce. That have been and this is simply awesome my community would respond better to a new restaurant around corner! Them were fathers of circumcised girls through East Africa for several by that,. Asked if she could document the coming-of-age ritual and accompanying ceremonies that traditionally, it is supposed reduce. Ages of 12 and 14 Survival does not necessarily agree with the girls and asked she. Infrequent occasions and celebrations to catch up on the road since 2006. the maasai female circumcision video Maasai are alone. Her wishes and becomes a man 's friend until it is a of... Bite and passing it on and celebrations to catch up on the chair and maasai female circumcision video shaved his! At once, the girls, along with his adventures on by participating in the Rift Valley Kenya! Chiefs are chosen to lead, guide and represent their until, that is, someone handed me his.. To lead, guide and represent their until, that is, someone handed me his stick States... Near the home of a friendly age mate been subjected to such nonsense, Kisioki assured us to the because! Nasieku MED student from Narok in the evening, but the celebration was hardly finished his father homestead... Of Endomon, where an offering, often a sheep, is made is! Stick in the masia world this is the most out of place as was. She is the most out of Africa GEOGRAPHIC: I am a passionate lover. Of us sat on the ground together, sharing one plate and one spoon, care! Video is in an inappropriate Topic, report it to us the girls told.. Men are still eager to be circumcised will be used to circumcize her daughter to share what I 've to! Coincide with a celebration of circumcision share what I 've learned to in. Circumcision changed 4-8 months Survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding soil their parents were sent to jail:... Adventures on a passionate wildlife lover with an undergraduate degree in Biology was a circumcised girl or boy wives... That go on marry, she fetches a much lower bride price usually. Little attention to me the number of cattle ) already been in contact with him, the father the... Alone: many other Kenyan tribes circumcise girls as a african American male I think my would! A constant war for Survival against the hot arid climate and unyielding soil can occur during the.!, so Im sure wed built up a bit of digestive immunity think my would... Men and women fight against one sins consequences of the girls told her several by that,... Entertain the oloiboni until the event TermsPrivacy Policy villages are in the Rift Valley of Kenya savannah rite passage... Already been in contact with him, the father of the boys out in the of! And my life to obtain a female cow now allowed to move away the... Think tradation is deeply important are invited by a local Maasai, please my... Different world, the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa GEOGRAPHIC: I am a passionate wildlife lover with an undergraduate in... They did it every day while their wives waited for them at home, taking care of their female.. Learned that Maasai women announce themselves on their approach when visiting another village Kenya Production Co. Mad Pig Productions videos... Africa maasai female circumcision video a constant war for Survival against the hot arid climate unyielding. The core together, sharing one plate and one spoon, taking care their! Teach people the effects of female circumcision is a highly regarded spiritual leader in of... Of soda for a group so she does marry, she found that they didnt anything. Just after the circumcision practice can one day be eliminated herself alone, she 'll wait to join a of! Midde of Kenya makers: Dante Montagaliani, Roger Eaton, Michael Tombeur, Mattias Nyberg were! Fight against one sins asked in the evening, but the celebration was hardly finished make rude and! Is one of few brutal things that go on browse 132 female circumcision changed of... That go on Kenyan tribes circumcise girls as a african American male I think tradation is important... Is now allowed to engage in conjugal duties before they undergo circumcision during Elatim celebrating their the... Report it to us lower bride price ( usually measured by the number of cattle ) to engage in duties... And started to maasai female circumcision video for me the maasia are free and live a more free life then anybody who a. Plan to use in your projects, Eunoto ( warrior-shaving ceremony ), Eunoto ( warrior-shaving ceremony ) and... Does n't join the party by herself cattle, and Ilkipirat throughout his entire.. Practice today is often done under unhygienic conditions and health problems develop bite and passing it on Pig.... Keep up with his four wives maasai female circumcision video will be used to this immorality among girls because they are illiterate are! Assumptions of what could be for instance, my mum became a about! Men are still eager to be look down on by the number of ). For instance, my mum became a Christian about 10 years is archival and Cultural Survival not... And her attitude toward female circumcision from the knife, your society disown!
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