The Digest:
Acclaimed Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen has shared her harrowing experience as a victim of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), revealing she was circumcised at age six by her grandmother without explanation. In an interview on the 'Dear Ife' series, Stephen recalled: "I remember it vividly, the pain. As I'm talking to you, I'm seeing the picture. That afternoon, that mat." She described being taken to a woman's place under pretence, made comfortable, then told to lie on a mat. "The pain was searing to the brain." Afterward, she was given Phensic and never told what happened, learning about FGM later in life. Stephen noted her mother, aunt, and some cousins were also circumcised as a family tradition from Edo State, though her mother later resisted when her grandmother tried it on her sister. She spoke of the lifelong after-effects, including inability to enjoy intercourse.
Key Points:
- Stephen's testimony puts a human face on the lifelong trauma and physical consequences of FGM.
- It highlights how cultural tradition perpetuates violence against girls without consent or explanation.
- Victims bear permanent physical and psychological scars, while families perpetuate cycles of harm.
- This signals the urgent need for education and legal enforcement against FGM practices.
- The timing, during an interview, reaches audiences who may be unaware of survivors' experiences.
Stephen's courage in sharing her story exposes the hidden trauma of FGM, challenging cultural traditions and advocating for awareness and prevention.
Sources: Premium Times, Dear Ife Series
