By Foray Ramadan Thoronka
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a dangerous practice that harms women’s health, involves the excision of the clitoris and labia minora. This procedure is performed by a senior society member called a Sowei, who has no medical training but is believed to be spiritually powerful. The Sowei uses a razor to perform the procedure.
17-year-old Isata Sesay died from infections and excessive bleeding during the FGM process in Tombo Village on the 7 day in April 2019. Isata was forced to undergo the procedure by her mother, who had also undergone FGM and wanted the same for her daughter.
Alpha Kamara, a Sierra Leonean local activist, reported that many girls, including Isatu Adama Sesay, had been initiated and were awaiting medical examination.
“Many more Sierra Leonean girls will be forced to undergo the procedure, and many of them will die as long as there is no clear strategy from the state and a true criminalization of the practice continues,” said Alpha Kamara.
In recent years, cases of girls bleeding to death after the horrific procedure during initiation ceremonies have made headlines in the country.
Fatmata Sesay, sharing her experience with the press, noted the dangers of the Bondo society. She recalled a girl who had been cut the same day as her in 2019 and experienced serious bleeding, dying during the process.
Gbassay Koroma, a senior Sowei, mentioned that it is a requirement for a female child to undergo the Bondo initiation to be respected and accepted in society.
She noted that those who refuse to be initiated are humiliated and harassed, as they have done to others.
Successive governments have made little to no effort to change this situation. This is likely due to the practice being deeply embedded in the culture, or because politicians fear losing votes if they attempt to ban it.
