A Forbidden Rite, A Cultural Bond
An elderly Maasai woman sits silently outside a hut in Makuta, Kenya, November 2016, where an unlawful female genital mutilation (FGM) ceremony is taking place. “This is our way; it has been for generations,” she says softly, her weathered hands resting in her lap. “We do this for the girls, to protect them, to prepare them for the future. The world is changing, but this is the way we have always done it. Our ancestors did it, and we must honor them.” The chief, who is present in the village, reflects on the practice, adding: “The elders have always carried this tradition, but we face a dilemma now. The laws from the government are not in harmony with our customs. We must teach the younger generation the value of our ways, but we also understand the pressure to change. What we have done for centuries, we cannot abandon easily.”
- Epson Premium Luster 260g
- Paper Only or Black Square Profile with Wood Picture Frame
- Photographed in Kenya
