By Mohamed Vandi in Kenema
The head of the Bondo Society in Kenema District, Haja Massah Kaisamba has disclosed that of the ten chiefdoms they have visited nine Paramount Chiefs have signed a memoranda of understanding against under-aged circumcision into the Bondo Society.
They are Dama, Koya, Lower Bambara, Dodo, Tunkia, Simbaru, Niawa, Kandu Lekpeyema, and Langurama.
According to Mrs Kaisamba, Small Bo chiefdom refused to sign the MoU saying they did not see the need to forbid teenage circumcision. Efforts to reach the paramount chief for his comment proved futile.
Haja said they intend to complete their tour in the remaining four chiefdoms in an exercise she said was being funded by the UNFPA and the Sowei Association in the District was implementing it.
She said the Sowei association comprised heads of Bondo.
She said their mission was not to put a stop to female circumcision which she referred to as part of their culture, but rather to respect some of the rules on child rights.
The Regional Gender Desk Officer confirmed that she had been part of the tour of the chiefdoms and that the exercise by the Bondo heads had helped put a stop to some traditional practices. She said the Bondo Heads in the various chiefdoms were very delighted to embrace the campaign. “They were very pleased to sign the memorandum of understanding” she said, which means that they have agreed to desist from teenage circumcision of girls under 18 years.
