When Jaha Dukureh started her famous campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), some Gambians called her a “hypocrite” who is funded by America to denigrate Gambian cultural values. But it seems no amount of dejection could stop the Serahule girl.
She is about to release a documentary that will bring attention to FGM in The Gambia.
Breaking the news to her Facebook followers, Jaha wrote: “Let's support this documentary in whatever way we can. The film will come out next year. It will first make its rounds at film festivals and from there we anticipate that it will be shown in theaters and TV in the U.S. And globally. I have been very privileged to work with an award making film maker that deeply cares about FGM and ending it.”
Jaha is among a recent cadre of young Gambian women who are defying cultural, religious and social norms to stand up for their rights. Her father is an imam in the Serahule community.
There are skeptics who believe that her campaign to end FGM would never bear fruit. Hard-line religious leaders, who are very influential, support the practice insisting that it is prescribed in Islam. According to them, there is wisdom behind it and it brings many benefits.
The former imam of State House, Alh. Aboudlie Fatty once told Standard Newspaper: “The prophet, Muhammad said we should practice circumcision but with moderation so that we leave a smile on her face and therein lies reward for the husband. If a woman doesn't undergo the practice, in the majority of circumstances, they have greater sexual appetite than the husband and this can lead them to have contempt for the man if he falls short in satisfying her appetite.”
The country’s most established anti-FGM organization, Gamcotrap tried unsuccessfully to muster political support for a ban on FGM. A few months ago, the national assembly rejected a communiqué that contained a proposal to ban the practice.
Can Jaha’s campaign really succeed in eradicating FGM? What’s On-Gambia talks to stakeholders – coming soon!