. The
Honourable Minister of Social Welfare, Gender & Children’s Affairs in the
Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has categorically stated
that the Bondo Society is not under any current or proposed ban by the United
Nations but that what the UN urges a ban of, was the specific practise of
female genital mutilation.
She was speaking during a
courtesy call on her by the National Sowie Council of Bondo Women on Tuesday
19th April 2016 at her Ministry’s conference room.
Over one hundred Bondo women clad in beautiful
traditional colourful dress, travelled from all over the country to first of
all congratulate the new Gender Minister on her appointment to such high office
and also to lobby and persuade the Minister not to support any movement that
will ban the Bondo society.
The Bondo Society is one of the cultural practices
in Sierra Leone and other African Countries wherein women are initiated to
become members in secret ceremonies witnessed only to their members. Supporters
of Bondo society say inside the Bondo circles, women are trained to be
productive in their societies, to take care of their homes and to learn
medicinal herbal treatments.
Controversially within the secret initiation
process is believed to be certain practises described as harmful. One such
practise is that of circumcision of female anatomy of initiates which can lead
to medical childbirth complications like fistula. Another harmful practise
associated with Bondo is that of the initiation of girls under the age of 18
years as well as brutal kidnapping of women to be circumcised without their
consent.
As a result of these practise, the United Nations
in December 2012, passed a resolution urging States to specifically ban this
circumcision of women known as the Female Genital Cutting (or FGM).
However, addressing the women to loud applause,
the Gender Minister succinctly dilated on the dichotomy between Bondo Society
as a whole entity and FGM as a singular specific issue. She said as a whole,
there are traditional and cultural lessons taught to members of the Bondo
society including the art of traditional medicine through herbs and leaves. She
said there are some illnesses which western medicine cannot cure but which
traditional medicine can provide a resolution of.
“Whilst the FGM aspect is a part of the Bondo
society, the truth is that Bondo Society itself is much bigger than FGM. The
United Nations has not banned Bondo. Let us get that very clear today that what
the United Nations has urged member states to ban is the practise of FGM and
not the sacred Bondo female societies,” Dr. Blyden said adding that if any adult woman desires
to be initiated into the traditional ways of her ancestors and of her own
volition, decides as an adult to undertake the initiation into Bondo society,
then “I will fully support the right of that woman to willingly
join the Bondo society as an adult”.
According to Honourable Dr. Sylvia Blyden, the
Bondo society is a secret sorority of Sierra Leone women that provides a common
ground for women to meet just like any secret sorority of women in any Western
countries provides common ground for women to meet.
Dr. Blyden also highlighted how Bondo societies
provide a means of alternative dispute resolutions; especially in rural areas
where the members are so tightly bound to one another that they can agree to
resolve issues amongst one another without burdening the local or judicial
court systems.
Dr. Blyden however reiterated the need to have a
continuous dialogue on the aspects of the society considered harmful including
forceful initiations and also initiating children. She said dialogue within and
without the Bondo society was needed. She informed the Sowies that, she is a
trained medical doctor who delivered at least 20 women at childbirth before she
graduated as a doctor. She said scarification from poor FGM exercises can
result in development of fistula during childbirth which was amongst the
reasons why FGM is being frowned upon.
Even though she herself, is not a member of the
Bondo society, Dr. Blyden openly told the Bondo women that she has great
respect for them, adding that, tradition and culture are the most important
aspect in any society as they provide grounding. She said, the government has
great respect for traditions and cultural values that were not harmful to its
citizens.
Dr. Blyden also used the chance to express
gratitude and appreciation to the Sowies for their massive support during her
approval in parliament on April 5th 2016.
“You came out in such large numbers to tell
President Koroma that you endorse his choice of me as your Minister responsible
for Gender Affairs in this country. Everyone saw you dancing with colourful
banners stating that Soweis and Bondo Women support the choice of Dr. Sylvia
Blyden as Minister for women affairs in Sierra Leone. I am here now today to
assure you that I will not let you down. We will sit together and dialogue and
find the best way forward for the women of this country that will not be
harmful. Rest assured though that as Gender Minister, I know that the concept
of Bondo is much bigger than just this FGM, FGM, FGM issue,” the eloquent female minister
ended to loud applause.
Earlier, the National Secretary General, National
Sowie Council, Kharday Zorokong described Bondo as the only society that can
bring all kinds of women together. She lamented that the ugly emergence of
cliques and cults in the country was because of a void created by lack of
sisterhood or brotherhood that African traditional societies create.
Madam Zorokong said as a council, they have met
both government and UN bodies to ensure that the Bondo society is not
abolished. The Bondo women promised that they will work in the interest of the
women, and assured the minister that they will not only avoid initiating
children and avoid forceful initiations but that they will “act as police” to
report anyone caught in such illegal and harmful acts.
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