A few days ago, I facilitated a social event that explored the issues of FGM within the African societies back in the continent as well as those here in the Diaspora. The issues were brought forward through a theatre play followed by a panel discussion. What was particularly a breath of fresh air for me was that the panel discussion included male Muslim scholars that were not only able to voice the teachings of Islam on circumcision but also speak out and advocate against the barbaric traditions that are often interwoven with religion when it comes to FGM.
Some of the interesting dimensions that I picked up on from the event were how vocal the youth of the African Diaspora were, particularly the Somali youth,in expressing their dislike towards this practice with many of them detailing their preference to the contrary.
It has been a long struggle if one reflects on the fight against FGM in the Somali as well as the African context but much has been achieved, many are enlightened and on the whole much of today's society is fortunately equipped with enough education to stop practicing this tradition. However the fact remains that it is not an eradicated practice and if we take heed from what some of the attendees of the event have related to us, FGM is rampant in many parts of the motherland and its practice is sacredly being passed on to the new generations.
Thus, as always, the fight must continue...
The fight must continue. I read somewhere recently that 98% of girls in Somalia go through this (an estimate of course).
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