Imagine yourself as a lady or your daughter being circumcised today. I know you're saying God forbid. Are you surprised about the topic, it looks awkward right. Does it exist. Whether it's morally right or wrong, Africans in the past have their own cultural heritage that has survived for centuries before colonialism. It's out culture and we value and respect it. Let's talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of the topic.
A Brief Overview of Akwa Ibom State
Akwa Ibom State is located in the Southern part of Nigeria. The people are known as Ibibio people, but in recent times other sub-groups like the Annang, Eket, Oron and even Eastern Obolo are also recognised as different from the Ibibio people. This is because of slight variations in the dialects. Akwa Ibom State is made up of 31 local government areas. It's an oil producing state and have multinational corporations like Exxonmobil and Mobile.
Female Circumcision in Akwa Ibom State
Female circumcision is an age long practice in the Akwa Ibom Area. The main reason for the practice is that it make a girl fit into the Ibibio society. It's believed that any lady that has not been circumcised was regarded as an outcast in the Ibibio society. It was compulsory for all virgins to be circumcised. During fattening for young virgins that we're ready for marriage, were kept in a room and are thought the rudiments of being a woman. While those that were not circumcised were redicled. They also believed the circumcision procedure was justified as a pubertal right and that a child was at risk of dying in childbirth if the head touched the mother's clitoris.source
Why Female Circumcision
The Ibibio people believed that not being circumcised can lead a young lady to sexual promiscuity. Also, it's believed that during childbirth young we usually die. To avoid child mortality and the incessant death of the mother, female circumcision is needed.
Is Female Circumcision Right or Wrong
Every society in the past had built several customs and traditions that have existed for several years and have helped the society to develop. The issue of whether it was right or wrong doesn't matter. I know that you might disagree with that but that's what they believe.
Finally, we can't judge the past generations for their customs and traditions. The way forward is that with the inception of globalization and the internet, people are free to chose what they want.