„Don’t meddle with our culture“ – was just recently the message from Maasai-elders in Oloitoktok (Kenya) to the Kenyan government and non-governmental Anti FGM-crusaders:

After decades of awareness- and education-campaigns among the Maasai, the knowledge about the devastating effects does not impress the tribe’s male patriarchs: They insist on the continuation of Female Genital Mutilation by referring to their „culture“.

But what is this „culture“? If we have a look under the surface of the Maasai’s exotic folklore, it becomes obvious that this „culture“ consists first of all of scroupulosly cultivated violence, and oppression against children and the female members of the society .

In fact, this „culture“ contains a perfectly organised, ritualised and perfidly justified excess of women’s enslavement and sadistic male violence.

Just a few examples: (mehr …)