Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation
Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation
Underlying Reasons for the Persistence of Female Genital Mutilation
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core problem and take measures from <strong>the</strong>re. In this particular situation one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problems<br />
addressed was <strong>the</strong> women per<strong>for</strong>ming FGM, called Ngariba. Families would pay <strong>the</strong> Ngaribas to<br />
circumcise <strong>the</strong>ir daughters, and as <strong>the</strong>y had authority to do this procedure, it also became a<br />
livelihood <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. What AFENT started with was to educate <strong>the</strong> Ngaribas and compensate <strong>for</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>ir livelihood.<br />
Ngariba from Sigino Village<br />
The tradition <strong>of</strong> FGM was very important in <strong>the</strong> village <strong>of</strong> Sigino. The <strong>for</strong>mer Ngariba explained<br />
that it was seen as a “declaration” <strong>for</strong> women, as well as it was an assurance <strong>for</strong> men that <strong>the</strong><br />
woman he would marry had not been with o<strong>the</strong>r men be<strong>for</strong>e him. According to her it was an<br />
equally important practice <strong>for</strong> men since a circumcised girl was a marriageable girl. She became<br />
a Ngariba through heritage, her grandmo<strong>the</strong>r and her mo<strong>the</strong>r use to be one. When she was<br />
per<strong>for</strong>ming FGM <strong>the</strong> families would bring gifts and pay around 200 shilling to have <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
daughters circumcised, and <strong>the</strong> procedure would take place in a distance from <strong>the</strong> village. She<br />
stopped being a Ngariba when she got educated and do not regret this decision, but <strong>the</strong> primary<br />
reason was that she was concerned <strong>for</strong> her daughter’s health. The pain that she suffered when she<br />
had undergone FGM, she did not want her daughter to experience.<br />
The education <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>mer Ngariba got from AFNET, and <strong>the</strong> concern <strong>for</strong> her daughter’s health<br />
was enough <strong>for</strong> her to stop, however she thinks that in order <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> practice to truly disappear<br />
<strong>the</strong> villages and <strong>the</strong> people need to be alert <strong>of</strong> what goes on in <strong>the</strong>ir surroundings.<br />
Fatima, adolescent from Babati Town 64<br />
Fatima is an orphan currently living in Babati in a Muslim orphanage in Babati Town. Fatima<br />
was born in Babati Town but moved to Kondoa to live with her grandmo<strong>the</strong>r when she was a<br />
little girl. According to AFNET, Kondoa, which is located in Dodoma region not far from<br />
Babati, is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> areas where AFNET operates and have to some extent succeeded. There are<br />
however records found <strong>of</strong> girls and women that still have undergone FGM. Often it is in rural<br />
areas that are isolated and difficult to reach where <strong>the</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> FGM occurs. Fatima was about<br />
64 Fatima is a fictive name <br />
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