Changes in Infibulation Practice in East Africa

Abstract

According to the available information from Somalia and Sudan, female infibulation in East Africa is moving more toward sunna rather than its complete eradication. In Merka, Somalia, sunna has evolved into a unique practice called sunna gudnin. A videotape, shot on location in Somalia, has been used as an educational and therapeutic tool to promote the idea of non-circumcision. From 1999 to 2001, the videotape was presented at international congresses and meetings on female genital mutilation (London, Ghent, Sydney), where Somalis working on international projects on immigration were in attendance. In Italy, the videotape was shown to Somali social workers in Rome and Padua, to Sudanese students visiting the University of Padua, and to students at the University of Padua in the Faculties of Psychology and Agricultural Science. From the discussions that ensue following each presentation of the video, we conclude that the sunna gudnin ritual, as well as other alternatives to female genital mutilation, are acceptable to the populations that devised them, but cannot be exported to other populations.