By Mary Kabay
It appears that even in this 21st century when certain rights activists in this country are vigorously campaigning against the elimination of the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), there are certain groups of people, who are becoming more emboldened to continue practicing it, despite all the negative impacts associated with the practice on our unsuspecting young girls.
This medium’s attention was drawn to a missing young girl by the name of Mariama Florence Kamara. Relatives and friends of this young girl became so worried after looking for her for days but to no avail leaving all of them confused and in a crying mode.
Trying to actually know what really transpired this medium, therefore, decided to launch a full-blown operation or investigation into the issue more especially driven by empathy for the family members and friends.
Besides, this medium became more interested to know whether the girl was still alive, amidst fears or rumors that she might have been killed for the purpose of ritual murder, a supposition that became stronger especially as Presidential and Parliamentary elections are not too far away to be held in the country. This is the period when it is heard that certain individuals who want to vie for political positions resort to ritual murder.
During the course of our investigation, this medium came to learn that when Mariama’s mother, Zainab Mohamed Sesay, was about to travel out of the country she left the young girl, Mariama Florence Kamara with her best or bosom friend by the name of Isatu Samura to take care of the young girl until such a time when they will reunite.
Zainab, it was said, left specific instructions with her friend, Isatu, that in no circumstance whatsoever should any of her relatives request for the young girl to be initiated into the Bondo secret society for girls. Young girls, as per tradition among certain Sierra Leoneans, when they have attained the age of puberty must be initiated into the society as a rite of passage into womanhood. It is during the time spent in initiation that the clitoris of those undergoing initiation is cut.
The girl’s mother was keen on leaving the instruction because it was learned, the girl’s mother, Zainab, lost eight members of her age group when sometime in the past they were initiated. She was lucky to have survived, the main reason why she could not condone Mariama being initiated.
However, unfortunately, on a particular day, some of the girl’s relatives stealthily snatched Mariama and fled with her to Mambolo on the pretext of initiating her into the Bondo Society. By a stroke of luck, the information reached the girl’s mother, who immediately contacted Isatu as the guardian to know what is going on.
Isatu responded that she was not aware of what has transpired thinking that the girl must have gone to attend extra lessons as she usually does. Isatu therefore immediately traveled to Mambolo.
Arriving in Ma Sampa Village on the 28th May 2021, in Mambolo Chiefdom, she met relatives in preparation for the initiation ceremony and saw Mariama, traditionally adorned amongst the other girls to be initiated. They were to be taken to the Bondo Bush for initiation on the 30th of May 2021. As fate will have it, it was on that very day that Isatu, it was further understood, fulfilled her plan when she stealthily took Mariama and immediately fled with her.
According to certain sources they were last seen in Guinea.
One of our reporters, who from the inception has been following this story closely, said he has heard on different occasions, members of the female secret society vowing vigorously that they will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Mariama Florence Kamara is, in one way or the other, initiated into the Bondo Society, as it is an integral part of their culture which must be respected.
As of now, it is a wait-and-see situation. However, what remains factual is that the campaigners against FGM in this country still have much to be achieved in trying to eliminate the practice as some are still tenaciously clinging to it despite all the odds posed to our young girls and women.
A very unfortunate incident of forceful initiation nearly took place in a village called Ma Sampa within Mambolo Chiefdom in the Kambia District, Northern Sierra Leone earlier this year, 2021.
