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Photos: Why these 9 women stopped carrying out female genital mutilation on young girls

Some 78% of girls and women in The Gambia undergo female circumcision – but that figure is slowly dropping.

FEATURE IMAGE 1

ON THE BANKS of the winding River Gambia, near the bustling market town of Basse Santa Su, clay is hauled from the muddy banks, loaded onto donkey carts and delivered to a nearby village called Kundam Manfatty.

The rainy season is imminent in The Gambia, taunting the thirst of the land and its people. Late in the day, the sun, exhausted, drops below the horizon and children gather to play football on a dusty field by the village.

FEATURE IMAGE 2

In the yard of her modest compound, Sira Janko and her co-worker, Fatou Jatter, set to work, sifting pebbles from the river sand and mixing it then with water and native grass.

“Before I was only able to make pottery on the side; one or two pots at a time.” Sira says, thinking back to her previous life and role as the village circumciser. “But now I’m able to make more than 10 at a time,” she continues, her hands working the clay with strength and industry.

Sira is one of hundreds of women who have made the life-changing decision to abandon the practice of female circumcision. It is a decision that does not come lightly but exists as part of a collective movement that is transforming the country and forging a new future for women in The Gambia.


Alice McDowell / Vimeo

Video produced with the support of Galway, UNESCO City of Film.

As the smallest country on mainland Africa, The Gambia is forged by a winding river, which runs like a backbone through its lean body. Following the course of the river as it ebbs and flows towards the Atlantic Ocean, a quiet yet powerful movement to protect and nurture female health and sexuality is unfolding.

Female circumcision, or Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as defined by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and UNFPA, affects 78% of girls and women in The Gambia. The practice, which varies in degree from tribe to tribe, is usually experienced by girls during adolescence as part of a coming-of-age ritual; a celebration of womanhood.

Though widely regarded as a religious obligation in The Gambia, the practice pre-dates the arrival of Islam and Christianity, and is etched into the cultural and social identity of the nation.

FEATURE IMAGE 3

In light of new knowledge about the serious immediate and long-term health consequences that circumcision inflicts upon women and girls, a home-grown response has emerged to bring an end to the practice. Established in 1984, The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) has been moving across the country, training and sensitising communities about the harmful and discriminatory nature of traditional practices such as FGM.

Dr Isatou Touray, who founded GAMCOTRAP, explained its importance:

FGM has been proven beyond doubts to be a harmful cultural practice that affects the sexual and reproductive health of girls and women. FGM violates the rights of women and children and affects the bodily dignity and integrity of the person affected.

Working with women, men, children, circumcisers, village chiefs, politicians and religious leaders, GAMCOTRAP assesses the practice through many lenses. Framing their workshops around universal human rights, health, religion, tradition and economic sustainability, their work aims to empower entire communities to abandon the practice, a decision that has come to be known as ‘dropping the knife’.

FEATURE IMAGE 4

An essential element in GAMCOTRAP’s work is their alternative employment opportunity programme. Female circumcision is traditionally carried out by women that have inherited the role and responsibility within their respective communities. Many of them rely on it as their main source of income to support themselves and their families.

The alternative employment opportunity programme is a sustainable livelihood strategy and support scheme, providing training and a small grant of 6000 Dalasi (around €140) for ex-circumcisers to develop a new small-scale business, which they can manage independently within their community.

FEATURE IMAGE 5

After the training and knowledge she gained, Sira Janko was able to stop alongside her community and is grateful for her new freedom and peace of mind. When she was cutting, Sira was never convinced that what she was doing was right; she was always in two minds. She would lie awake at night wondering “…what I did, will it be successful or not?”.

But now, Sira is at peace during the night.

To me, the river is like freedom. Because the river freely flows and I am free.

FEATURE IMAGE 6

The nine women presented here are ex-circumcisers and recipients of the AEO grant and support scheme. Each woman has been creative and entrepreneurial in their approach, forging new career paths that draw on both modern technology as well as elements of nature, custom, tradition and the omnipresent river.

Maryama Samura - A food stall keeper
1 / 8
  • Maryama Samura - A food stall keeper

    Kabakama, Upper River Region
  • Aja Babung Sidibeh - Bakery owner

    Janjanbureh, Central River Region
  • Kumba Mboe - A cereal banker

    Changai Toro, Central River Region
  • Fatou Loyal - A cattle farmer

    Changai Toro, Central River Region
  • Nakebba Fofannah - A water and ice seller

    Wassu, Central River Region
  • Oumou Bah - A sheep farmer

    Nyoro Tuclor, Central River Region
  • Awa Chune - A peanut grinder

    Misira, Lower River Region
  • Fatoumata Bah - A small goods seller

    Sare Saidou, Lower River Region

With the support of the Simon Cumbers Media Fund, Maurice Gunning and Alice McDowell travelled to The Gambia in early 2015 to create RIVERINE: 9 Stories from The Gambia.

An exhibition of these photographs will be formally opened by Professor Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, on Tuesday 24th November at 6pm in the main gallery, The Hunt Museum, Limerick.

RIVERINE: 9 Stories from The Gambia will be one of the largest photographic exhibitions in Ireland this year with 65 prints presented at the Hunt Museum.

Exhibition open daily from Monday 23rd Nov – Sunday 29th November.
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sundays 2-5pm. Further information available at www.mauricegunning.com

Maurice Gunning is the photographer in residence at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.

Alice McDowell, is a documentary filmmaker working with the Galway Film Centre.

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35 Comments
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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:57 AM

    Dr Hadden was elected to Wexford Corporation where he served for many years. He also founded the Wexford Male Voice Choir which is still going strong. I , like many of my generation, knew Dr Hadden as he was extremely well known in town. Summer or Winter he never wore an overcoat or socks and only wore very lightweight shoes. He was indeed a great walker and walked miles every day , for many years with his little dog at his side. When his dog was killed by a car it made the newspapers.As far as I can remember he was made a Freeman of the Borough.It was an honour to have known such a man.

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:19 AM

    Thanks for that great info, John!

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    Mute L-Plate
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 12:53 PM

    Was he actually 7ft?

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    Mute Anne Marie O'Connor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 4:25 PM

    No he wasn’t. He was tall, 6ft six maybe.

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    Mute Adam Murphy
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:19 AM

    The Pretenders don’t look so impressive now huh?

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    Mute Conor Dunne
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:56 AM

    Classic Adam. I tip my hat to you sir

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    Mute Hipster Enda
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:06 AM

    The Proclaimers ?

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    Mute Boganity
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 3:58 PM

    Da lat da (Da lat da), da lat da (Da lat da)
    Da-da-da dun-diddle un-diddle un-diddle uh da-da

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:09 AM

    Just to confirm that Dr Hadden was made an Freeman of Wexford in 1972. He never sought to serve as Mayor but probably would have succeeded had he done so. He also founded the Old Wexford Society now known as the Wexford Historical Society.

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    Mute Captain kirk
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:55 AM

    Was he 7ft tall?

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:39 AM

    No he was about 6’1″ when he was in his later years so probably about 6’3″in his prime.

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    Mute Robespierre
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:23 AM

    Great story – some man for one man.

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    Mute John Roche
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:53 AM

    Incidentally his wife Helen lived beyond 100 yrs and died in the early 1980′s. During his time back in Wexford from approx 1940 to his death in 1973 he never practiced as a doctor. He spent his time organising the bodies he had founded and started to conduct tours around town for tourists a practice which is commonplace today. In appearance he had a Chinese type long white beard down beyond his chest and walked very fast ( even when old) usually with his hands clasped behind his back.

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    Mute the flying picket
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:24 AM

    If only he had facebook !

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    Mute Noel Quinn
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:18 AM

    Some men would walk 10000 miles in the opposite direction !!!!

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    Mute bob®
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:24 AM

    Wexford always had great Walkers

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    Mute damien kierans
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 10:43 AM

    Movie please

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    Mute Qwerty
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 11:36 AM

    There already are films where it’s just people walking and nothing else happens. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy!

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    Mute Owen Lynch
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:38 AM

    The present Wexford hurling could do with a few (15) like him.

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    Mute Dave Field
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:47 AM

    Some tall tale…

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:25 AM

    I wonder if he sang any Proclaimers songs to keep himself amused along the way…
    da da-da da duh. da da-da da duh …..

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 9:27 AM

    Now I see Adam got in ahead of me!

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    Mute Dylan Ryan
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    Aug 2nd 2014, 5:45 PM

    He woulda spotted her miles away with that hat on her….

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    Mute ZeeFeb
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    Mar 20th 2017, 6:44 PM

    @Dylan Ryan: actually that is my great great grandmother. Don’t make fun of her hat. It was the early 1900s

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    Mute ZeeFeb
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    Mar 20th 2017, 6:46 PM

    actually the story is real. I should know. That man is my great great grandfather.

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