The roots of circumcision practise predate our history and are hidden in secrets and magic, they are part of one of the most important initiation ceremonies in anyones life - the passing of childhood and acceptance of being an adult.

The practise of male and female circumcision was the culmination of weeks of initiation where boys and girls learnt about being adult members of their group.

If there is anything similar in our western culture today, maybe it is the military boot camps where individuals are reduced to the common denominator of a 'member' with no identity until they emerge stronger individuals capable of endurance for the good of the group OR fall by the wayside or even die in the attempt.

In 2005 in most western cultures the individual has become more important than the group, so in cultures where the group is still critical it is difficult to understand acts that call for endurance far far beyond what we could possibly endure.

In Gambia most of the teenage girls and older women you see, will have endured circumcision as part of their initiation into the group that provides the daily support they need - even NOW there is a daily situation of privation and need still existing in 21st Century Gambia.

Some country has to be the poorest - but Gambia is poor beyond most of our abilities to endure, but endure it they do with a smile and strength that stops many visitors in their tracks. My own children after visiting Gambia seldom chanted the youth slogan - 'its boring' after seeing how satisfied Gambian children were with so little.

In Gambia electric is so intermittant that many people prefer to be without it because a match and a candle are dependable sources of light - food bought and cooked today is better than relying on food storage in a fridge that may have no power for 3 or 4 days out of 7.

Using an earth hole as a toilet is often preferrable to a flush toilet that cannot be flushed for a week because there is no water.

Life in Gambia is not the same as life in Europe and endurance is not the same either and so can not be equated, what would be un-endurable in Europe is everyday living in Gambia.

If the west is seriously concerned about Female circumcision then it has a very long way to go in creating more economic equality between the first and third world before it can hope to be heard on issues that are viewed as essential survival issues in tribal culture and tradition, however criminal WE feel the acts are.

Just as young marines respect and stand by their comrades as if they were family (often closer than family) so the bonds between Gambians who have been initiated together last for life compelling initiates to help and support each other, materially, emotionally and financially in a way we simply cannot comprehend or appreciate.

Once Gambians have the economic independence to be able to have food and education and the funds to cover medical emergencies, then there will be an environment where the traditions will be challenged and changed. Making those who carry out circumcisions criminal will provide newspaper stories of people arrested and stories of girls saved from the bararous knives of wicked ignorant old crones will make it appear that something is happening BUT it will not stop the practise it will drive it under ground as prohibition in the USA did with drink.

Maybe that will be enough to satisfy the objectors - but only a real removal of the slavery of poverty will create a genuine change through education.

It is worth noting the Banjul declaration indicating the good intentions to change BUT the reality of change is a long way off. The generation responsible for carring out female circumcision is unlikely to be affected by educational issues and organisations educating the young will need to be very sensitive about the enormous cultural tensions that this will create just as the slavery issue split communities in the west before and after its so called abolition.

Return to The Gambia - Slavery entry