Breaking the Cycle of Violence: A Young Feminist’s Reflection on the Shift in Cultural Perspectives of FGM/C in Sierra Leone
by Isha Abbis Kamara — Production Officer, Purposeful
Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision (FGM/C) is deeply rooted in Sierra Leone’s cultural traditions. In many communities, it is regarded as a rite of passage, a necessary step for girls transitioning into womanhood. As children, we are taught that it is part of our tradition, but no one ever tells us about the brutal physical, emotional, and psychological toll it takes on those who undergo it. Growing up as a girl, I fully expected it was something I would go through, but I had no understanding of what was truly awaiting me.
Like many girls, I was eager to be initiated and to put an end to the bullying I had endured for not being a member of this respected all-female secret society. But everything changed that fateful morning at the initiation bush when I heard the horrible screams of my younger sisters. Fear overwhelmed me and I, who was also in there with them, tried to escape without knowing exactly what had happened to them. I was held down by older women I didn’t know. The searing pain of the cut, the suffocating cloth stuffed into my mouth, and the powerlessness of being restrained leave scars in my memory that I’ll never forget. Even after my body healed, the emotional and psychological trauma stayed with me. I felt betrayed — by my community, my culture, and the people I had trusted.
For years, I felt hollow, somewhat disconnected from my own body. It was like a part of me spiritually had been taken that morning and never returned. It took me a long time to realise that the trauma I had been carrying all those years wasn’t so much about the physical act itself but of the weight of a tradition and expectation that had stripped me of my fullness as a human being, and a harmful cultural practice that masked physical pain and existential deprivation as ‘dignity’, purity’ and ‘womanhood’. The experience that I, my sisters, and the other girls who were initiated that day went through, is one that thousands of other girls in my country have had and are still going through. And, like myself when I was younger, they continue to be told that it is a necessary aspect of their culture.
Yet, the truth is that at the core of this practice, and the tradition that sustains it, is the underlying patriarchal notion that a woman’s sexuality is something to be controlled if not stripped away entirely. That sexual autonomy is only the purview of men and that a woman’s role is one of submission, duty and servitude. This mindset has manifested in varied forms of repression in different patriarchal cultures around the world. And this direct, violent and ultimately senseless practice just happened to be our own manifestation of it.
However, over the past decade of my life, I have begun to witness significant shifts in people’s attitudes towards the practice of female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone. It is a shift that has been brought about by years of education, awareness campaigns, community engagement, and the tireless work of many feminist leaders and women’s rights organisations, as well as limited but encouraging political interventions. In 2019, FGM prevalence was reported to have dropped to 83%, down from 90% in 2013.
I believe that even greater progress can be achieved as more and more people come to realise that ending FGM/C does not mean abandoning our culture and tradition. Indeed, there are many aspects of my culture and heritage that I hold with pride and would defend wholeheartedly. However, we must also recognise that tradition, including the celebration of womanhood and rites of passage, can be honoured without resorting to practices that inflict irreversible harm and violence on a segment of the population. Acts that not only endanger women and girls’ health but, in some cases, our lives. Culture should be something beautiful, something that uplifts and empowers, not something that causes suffering. Thus, the harmful connection between FGM/C and cultural identity within some communities needs to be broken. It is an irrational and unnecessary link that only perpetuates this harmful practice and makes it difficult to move forward.
Many young activists, including myself, are now advocating for alternative rites of passage, offering communities ways to preserve traditions without the need for cutting. One notable initiative in Sierra Leone is Wati Kura, launched by Purposeful, which challenges FGM/C by promoting “bloodless rites” while still honouring the cultural significance of the Bondo female secret society.
However, concerns remain that these alternatives may not fully address the deep-rooted social pressures that drive girls into FGM/C. Many girls still undergo the procedure to avoid being ostracised or labelled “Gborka” meaning the uncut woman or unreal woman. This is why education and community-wide dialogue are necessary in breaking down the stigma associated with not being cut. By engaging local leaders, parents, and influencers and having open discussions about the long-term physical and emotional impacts, we can begin to shift mindsets and create lasting change.
During my travels around the country through the Wati Kura initiative to screen short films about the possibilities of alternative rites of passage for girls, I witnessed first-hand how communities are starting to question. In one village, a ‘Yellow Sowei’ — a former FGM/C practitioner who now embraces the bloodless rite, acknowledged the importance of keeping our cultural traditions alive without harming girls. In another community, one local leader known as Kuti Gbla, stated in a community dialogue after the film screening, that FGM/C holds no real value in our communities and emphasised that investing in our girls education is the key to their great potential that will benefit our communities future.
One of the most significant shifts I have observed is the growing involvement of men in the fight against FGM/C. Men are increasingly recognising that the harm caused, has economic and social consequences not just for women, but for the entire community. As one man from a village said, “We spend large sums of money on initiation. Why not use that money for our children’s education instead?” Many others have also been waking up to this realisation of how the practice drains community resources and hinders development. Families usually incur significant costs for the ceremonies, gifts and fees paid to the Soweis who perform the cutting, leaving little for essentials like education and healthcare. In addition, the long-term health complications resulting from FGM/C can lead to ongoing medical expenses, further straining families and communities. These financial burdens, combined with the loss of educational opportunities for girls, keep communities locked in cycles of poverty, preventing progress and development.
The perception of FGM/C is changing and evolving, and with it, the future for young girls and women in Sierra Leone. It’s no longer only women and young activists that are pushing for change — men, Soweis, leaders, and entire communities are beginning to see the harm. The journey is far from over, but every conversation and every small victory brings us closer to a Sierra Leone where no girl or woman has to endure pain and trauma just to keep a so-called ‘cultural practice’ going.
Isha Abis moved from being a Purposeful Fellow to a full-time staff member in the Media, Advocacy, and Communications team. Isha was vital in the production of Karo Kura Konnection. This weekly radio drama and talk show broadcasts across the country and continues to spark nationwide conversations on FGM and the critical issues affecting adolescent girls to explore how communities can work together to ensure girls live in dignity and freedom.
For more information please visit wearepurposeful.org
