Njeri Hunjeri Poet Prose

Circumcised

Maybe I should name this: the knife, or traditions traditions, or the pain of being an African girl. Or a funnier title; we laughed until we cried

Right after primary school
I visited a girlfriend of mine who was ailing
I grew up with this girl, we played those kids games together and went to school together 
My mum and her mum were good friends

She had been cut so as a tradition, she had to be taken care of as an invalid until she healed
She was happy to see, I was happy to see her
She was covered with a leso since she couldn't wear any tight clothing

She told me of her experience, about this rights of passage
She was proud of it
She was ready to be more mature
Her older sisters had done it too
She talked of the pain, but said it was worth it

She asked me when I was going to get my cut
I hesitated 
Then answered, "I don't know. i don't think my parents would allow that"

She was okay with that answer since not all the girls in the village were getting the cut
There were some very traditional parents who upheld that tradition and their daughters went under the knives same time as their sons did
And there were parents like mine, who were totally against that......

Even though they felt it had some advantages 
                               -To tame the woman-
I remember my mum threatening me and my sisters that she will get us circumcised if we would not obey her
Even refusing to do simple chore, would ignite this threat

That day I went to visit my friend, we had tea and mandazis, 
Talked about boys
Talked about highschool and the future 
                               and laughed a lot

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James Fraser March 5, 2015 at 12:56 PM I know there are different cultures, but to me it beggars belief that such still exists today. I honestly don't know what else to say on this Njeri, James..... Njeri Hunjeri January 13, 2018 at 4:22 AM Thank you James

Lewis Nyaga March 2, 2015 at 5:32 AM a bold one my friend thou you hide so well in the the undertone wringing in your poem... the regrets the i wish it were different why cant they see it my way.. and the haunted lost look you saw i her eyes.. us who come from the slopes have all seen it.. whats the worth of a rite where the passer has to justify... As a people we need to keed to keep our good customs and throw away the retrogressive ones*** am a man who is against that rite*** Njeri Hunjeri March 2, 2015 at 5:51 PM Yes. I agree with your words. I tried to write this poem in a nonjudgmental way with the same innocent eyes I looked at my friend with. But now I know better and am also a woman totally against the rite. Thank you Lewis.

Toquyen Harrell February 27, 2015 at 12:34 PM I love it, Njeri! Yes, keep writing :) I wonder of the usefulness of it. Don't get it. Njeri Hunjeri February 27, 2015 at 6:46 PM Thank you Toquyen for visiting my work. Yes I'll keep writing. Blessings

Kp Nunez February 27, 2015 at 12:03 PM Wow. I've read about female circumcision before but I thought it was a thing of the past. You have a way with words that people who tell great stories have. Keep writing, Njeri. 7 from me. :D Kim Njeri Hunjeri February 27, 2015 at 6:45 PM Yes it still happens. But different people have different take on it. Kim, Thank you for visiting my work. And thanks for the 7!