 |
| Image: Google |
Nigerian filmmaker and actress Biodun Stephen has shared a deeply personal account of undergoing female circumcision as a child, describing the experience as traumatic and extremely painful.
Female circumcision, widely referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM), is a harmful cultural practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. The procedure has been condemned globally due to its severe physical, emotional, and psychological consequences.
Stephen opened up about her ordeal during a recent episode of Diary of a Naija Girl, where she spoke candidly about the memory and how it has stayed with her over the years.
According to the filmmaker, the act was carried out by her grandmother as part of a long-standing cultural tradition that had been passed down through generations in her family. She explained that her mother had also gone through the same experience, which made it appear normal within their cultural setting at the time.
Recounting the incident, Stephen revealed that she was only six years old when she was circumcised, adding that she vividly remembers the pain and confusion she felt.
“In my own case, it was my grandma. I think my mum was too, so it is a culture for them because I remember that I was six when I went for circumcision. So I remember it vividly, the pain,” she said.
She further described how she had no idea what was about to happen, trusting her grandmother completely and following her without suspicion.
“I mean, I was six, I did not know what was going on, and I loved my grandma. She said, ‘let us go somewhere.’ They allowed me to play, made me feel comfortable, and I even ate. Then they asked me to go have a shower, and I saw the woman putting a mat and a bowl on the floor. Next thing, they asked me to lie down, the pain was searing to the brain,” she recounted.
Stephen’s emotional revelation has since sparked conversations online, with many applauding her courage for speaking out and using her platform to raise awareness about the dangers of female genital mutilation. Advocates and activists have continued to stress the importance of ending the practice, which remains prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
By sharing her story, the filmmaker has added her voice to the growing call for education, cultural reform, and stronger enforcement of laws banning FGM, in a bid to protect young girls from undergoing similar traumatic experiences.
Her account serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted cultural practices that still affect millions of girls worldwide and underscores the need for sustained advocacy and community engagement to bring lasting change.
Watch her speak below:
#BiodunStephen
#NollywoodTimes
#Circumcision
No comments:
Post a Comment