*With women being the target of abuse and violence throughout the world, America is now seeing in their hospitals the cultural abuse and torture that women from countries in Africa, the Middle and Far East, experience via their own families and communities. Sadly this is not a torture imposed on young girls and babies (as early as 6 months) from cruelty but rather from ignorance.
Few American women can imagine their families forcing them to undergo a procedure that will leave a hole where their clitoris once was, savagely cut out of them via anything sharp; a knife (not always sterilized) a razor blade, sharp rock and even in some cases, jagged glass. Hard to believe that this can still be happening in the 21st century but some traditions are blindly followed for no other reason than that people always have. Even though, most people cannot even remember when the tradition began or why.
Nigerian born nurse and Nollywood star, Chisom Oz-Le, sees birth mothers who have undergone this procedure coined “Female Genital Mutilation” in hospitals where she works. These women are in great pain because the scar tissue resulting from this form of mutilation often prevents the vaginal elasticity necessary to allow the baby to be born naturally through the birth canal. Unfortunately, the baby experiences great stress and in some incidences dies. Chisom decided to stand against thousands of years of tradition and do something to end this unnecessary practice through her film “Lost Maiden.”
“Lost Maiden is a film about female genital mutilation. I was inspired by the fact that I see what girls and women go through when they come to deliver their babies in hospitals. I began to research, interview and tackle this problem once I understood that some females who undergo female genital mutilation (FGM), do not understand the root of their delivery problems. I believe much of their delivery problems stem from the cuts involved in FGM. The way this procedure is done, is the clitoris is cut off as well as the adjacent tissues, oftentimes with unsterilized equipment by unexperienced villagers under unsanitary conditions,” explained the RN and actress.
You may be asking yourselves why would the parents allow this and why would some women who have undergone the cruelty of this practice, condone it. Well, because its tradition. Throughout the centuries, countries that enforce this practice like Africa see it as law. They are taught that female circumcision is a rite of passage. They believe that if you are not circumcised you are not a full woman.
“You must be circumcised to be recognized in the society. You are expected to be a maiden. But it’s a tradition that has no benefit whatsoever. It’s more of a selfish thing to cut off something that is the only source of pleasure for women during intercourse. The reason behind this, I believe, is that men think that when a woman can’t have sexual feelings, then she is less promiscuous. Whoever invented this tradition and implemented it, did it out of cruelty and selfishness” stated Chisolm who produced and stars in the “Lost Maiden” film.
Many women get infection and if not treated die as a result. Also, some young girls who undergo the procedure while being forcefully held down by family or community members, are expected to remain silent while their labia is being cut out. If they cry or scream while suffering excruciating pain, it is deemed they are not fully women and can be later ostracized by the community as a result.
“The labia that covers the vaginal opening is cut off and then the woman tightly stitched leaving the woman susceptible to infection because infection can freely go into the vagina. Most of the problem is urinary tract infection. The bladder gets infected and sometimes urine gets backed up. When you have frequent urinary tract infection it causes bladder cancer. Also, excruciating pain is another complication as well as hemorrhaging. Before marriage these women are unstitched, thus subjecting women to another unnecessary procedure by non experts. They just do these circumcisions without knowledge and therefore can cut off an artery causing the person to bleed to death. Women lucky enough to survive it, often have scar tissues that forms around the vaginal opening making it difficult for child birth. Due to the high mortality rate among circumcised females and their babies, I wanted to do something to educate these potential mothers and show them that there is no reason for these circumcisions whatsoever.”
Chisom Oz-Lee is showcasing her movie “Lost Maiden,” in conjunction with Save Africa Concerts Foundation, Femmes Africa Solidarite and Best Icon Productions in hopes of educating the world about the harmful effects of female circumcision in an attempt to end this dangerous practice. The film stars Nollywood actors: Ngozi Ezeonu, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Binbo Akintola, and Kalu Ikeagwu and will be shown at the United Nations Church Center, located at 777 United Nations Plaza, 2nd Fl (corner of 1st Avenue and 44th Street in NYC) on Friday, July 10th at 4:00 p.m. Program starts at 5PM. Admission is free. Both Michelle Lopez and Chisom are Save Africa Concerts Foundation spokespersons, as are Adama Duof, UN Representative; Dr. Dorothy Ogundu, President/Founder of AngelDocs and spokeswoman for Femmes Africa Solidrite. Additional special guests are: Dominican actress Wanda Eferreiras, Ini Edo, Kalu Ikeagwu, Chigozie N. Atuanya, Emmanuel Ehumadu, Chris Iheanacho and Moses Inwang.
Interested parties can RSVP Hardy Jimbes at Info@sacaids.org or visit www.tuffgig.com