The Local Barbers (wanzam)
The barber was friendly and eagerly answered my questions. On how common the ectomy is, he said these days less uvulectomy is done because there is an alternative medicine given to prevent the uvula from growing bigger and becoming an ailment. I asked him what they remove from a baby girl's private part and why. He said "angurya" was necessary to remove because it may prevent penetration in the future. I wanted to confirm whether what they do is clitoridectomy or hymenectomy, so we agreed to meet again in a few weeks.
I went back to the wanzami with diagrams so he can point out what is cut out. He showed me the bottom part of the labia minora and said that the angurya looks like an ear poking out of the vagina. He stated that when he examines a newborn girl's vagina, he can determine if she needs the angurya removed or not. He showed me the locally made blade and how he scrapes it out. Bent on the conviction that the cut out part grows to prevent intercourse, he also mentioned that he performs hymenectomy on married women who have problems with intercourse. I asked if he uses any anesthesia on the babies and women, and he said no he didn't. "You cut them in agonizing pain?" I asked, and strangely he laughed.
I told him about enlarged genital area in newborn girls due to extra estrogen from the mother and the different types of hymen formation. I explained cases of septate and perforated hymen and the medical procedure by surgeons to rectify the condition. Most importantly I mentioned anesthesia and pain management. Then he told me that there are herbs (apparently known only to them) and red potash that is put in a bath bucket where a baby girl sits in as angurya treatment. He claims it will prevent it from growing bigger and covering the vagina. So in cases where the family request herbal medication, he does not cut anything. Then he added that the at least the Hausas do not cut like the Yorubas. "They take out almost everything," he said. I asked if he had done that kind of cutting/mutilation, and he answered, "Yes. They ask for it and we get paid for the it."
I asked the wanzami if their living depends on the ectomies and he said that it did not. They do it as a side job, but their profession is barbing men's hair. The most important question I asked was whether FGM was cultural or religious, and he said it was a cultural practice. I mentioned that I wanted to start a campaign to raise awareness to stop the practice. And he calmly responded that it is a practice that can be stopped. After all, less uvulectomy is performed and tribal marks are rare these days. It would not be a big deal to stop cutting. He said that they were never informed about its irrelevance and he can arrange for a meeting where I can present my argument with other barbers. He also offered to set up a meeting with one of the leaders in their wanzan association.
I left him feeling quite optimistic, but still remained confused about what is removed, therefore I sought out a second wanzami the next day. Their shops were close by in the same neighborhood. His small room had herbs and stalks bound together on shelves. He was shaving a man's beard, so I waited for a few minutes. The barber had similar answers and arguments with the first wanzami I interviewed, except that he was quite arrogant and seemed irritated by my rebuttals to his answers. He said he cannot refuse to do what his clients ask him to do, and this included scarification (tribal marks). He said no authority, not even a religious scholar, will convince him to stop doing what his grandparents and parents did.
We talked about the uvulectomy and he said it was necessary to prevent uvula disease. I showed him a picture of an infected tonsil with the uvula in tact, and he said he had herbs and branches that he uses to cure such infections. When I asked him what tree he got it from, he refused to disclose the information. He pointed to his shelf of several containers and bags and said he has his own mixture he prescribes. I asked him if he knew about any baby deaths related to uvulectomies, and he said he never heard of such. Of course he lied. There are several reports of newborns getting infections (tetanus) or bleeding to death as a result of the local uvulectomy.
Furthermore, his explanation of the genital cutting was different. He showed me the same area on the diagram the previous wanzami pointed out, but he told me there were three parts in the vagina that pokes out, and sometimes the angurya comes out of the urethra when it grows big. But he pointed at the vagina as the urethra, so I had to show him the position of the "kofan pitsari", that is the "urine passageway". In the middle of explaining basic anatomy and how unnecessary it was to cut out a baby girl. Obviously irritated, he excused himself and left me mid-speech. On my way home, I spotted a wanzami sign in the next neighborhood. I went in and asked question, and I got slightly different answers.
The shop was smaller than the other two shops. He had a single bench and fewer items around the shop. He was reading a Qur'an, which he kept aside and welcomed us. Again, he explained that a woman whose angurya is present will prevent her from having intercourse. He described it as two separate parts that will eventually fuse the vagina shut if not cut out. He also adds that it gives the woman inexplicable strength to resist the husband at night, possibly referring to supernatural strength. To him, it is simply a cultural practice that is necessary. I told him if he would join a campaign to stop the cutting, and he gently laughed saying he cannot be an advocate to the cause because the occupation is his sustenance.
However, he advised me to talk to parents to stop requesting for the uvula and genital cuttings. I asked him if he could at least encourage taking herbal drinks instead of cutting, and he answered that he could not refuse to do what he is going to get paid for. I mentioned the sit-in herbal bath for babies instead of being cut, and he said there was no such thing. That was when he made an interesting point that some wanzamai are dishonest about certain remedies to get money.
I asked if he still did tribal marks, and he said no because it is forbidden in Islam. However he said he might do scarification to an adult who asks for it, but never to a child. I pointed out that if we could phase out tribal marks, why not the cuttings? He laughed again and said if I can prove that Islam forbids it, he will stop and also tell his fellow barbers at their monthly meetings. He said he would gladly meet any Islamic scholar, but will not listen to any medical doctor because it is not their line of work. (Ten steps back, 'ey?)
Basically, according to wanzamai, the angurya and uvula ectomies are preventative procedures. Sadly, it will be difficult to convince the wanzamai to stop the cuttings because they believe they are preventing future infections of the uvula that may swell, erupt and cause death. They also believe they are saving marriages. They may have their different reasons and methods, but the unifying factor among the wanzan is the economic reason. They simply do it for the money. I doubt they genuinely care about community health.
The uvula has its immunological and physiological functions. It is important for sound and certain intonations, controlling excess nasal sounds. This is one of the reasons some Islamic scholars in Nigeria discourage its unnecessary removal because it prevents melodious Qur'anic recitation and pronunciation. It also serves as throat lubrication secreting saliva and has gag reflex that prevents choking. When infected, it can be removed professionally at hospitals under sterile conditions and anesthesia. FGM/C comes with several complications that affect women physically, psychologically, sexually and socially.
Doctor Maryam Nasir who practiced in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and presently works at Northwest University, said she has come across patients whose clitoris have been removed. She points out that according to scars she has examined, more than just the hymen is tampered with. During her dissertation on female genital mutilation, she found out that the angurya removal is considered a gynecological treatment for several sicknesses that also include backaches. At a vaginal vestibular fistula clinic, she came across several women who developed obstetrical and sexual complications because of angurya cuts. So perhaps the wanzamai were not completely honest with me. There is definitely more damage done.
