By Sallieu S. Kanu
The campaign to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is gaining ground in the northern district of Port Loko.
Sixty Soweis on Monday, July 24, 2023, made public declaration to drop their knife, razor, and other instruments which they normally use to remove clitoris of girls and women during the Bondo initiation.
They made the declaration at the Rothumba Community in the Koya Chiefdom during a campaign organized by the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) to promote bloodless rites and eradicate female genital mutilation. The campaign was supported by the Piefferminz Green, BMZ.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of AIM, Rugiatu Neneh Turay – Koroma who is a renowned anti-FGM campaigner, noted that women are often ostracized amidst all their rights despite efforts by the government to empower them.
She further underscored the fact that even though radical advocacy is fostered to bring change,yet most women still continue to take the backseats on issues affecting them and the society.
She emphasized the need for an equal society.
The right campaigner applauded the Soweis for taking the bold step to abandon their tools.
On behalf of their communities, Rothumba Headman Alimamy Sesay and Rosengbeh Youth Leader applauded AIM and expressed their readiness to support the strides and initiatives of their founder and Executive Director in her tireless efforts promote Bondo without cutting.
Young Initiates, Adama Justin and Asabe Christiana narrated how they successfully went through the Bondo without genital mutilation. “I must confess that the Bondo culture is nice, but the cutting is really scary and dangerous,” noted Christiana who pleaded to the Soweis to stop the painful act.
Sampa Soko Bangura, one of the first FGM practitioners to initiate girls without cutting, said the Sowei’s job is not a good thing to continue with. “it is good we stop spending much resources in such horrible acts and invest in our children educationally,” she said.