Samiella Lavaly hails from a family that is strongly linked to traditional and barbaric Bondo Society which is strongly practiced in where she comes from in Jangalor Village, Bonthe District, southern Sierra Leone. Bondo Society is secretive tradition of women in Sierra Leone that is steeped in mythology, but it has the genital mutilation of young girls and women as central pillar. Even talking about the Society, women believe, put them at risk of ‘curse’ and ‘demons’.
Though many community leaders in Sierra Leone excuse these acts of violence against women and girls within Bondo Society as cultural and traditional, and therefore not subject to open criticism or question, these acts are a clear breach of women and girls human rights and they are illegal under international law and treatises, many of which have been signed by Sierra Leone’s government.
The secrecy and taboo surrounding Bondo Society is preventing communities from tackling the practices of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). It is a key reason why eight out of ten women and girls over 15 years in Sierra Leone have undergone some form of FGM.
This research study examines why FGM persists in Sierra Leone and its link with the Bondo Society initiation rites.
PEER research allows participants to gather qualitative information and opinion from friends, and their friends’ friends, to create a better picture of an issue. The method is particularly appropriate for subjects that are considered taboo, such as sexual issue and FGM.
This research reveals that Bondo Society continues to be a power driver of FGM in Sierra Leone. The mythology and secrecy surrounding the practice continues to stand in the way of trackling FGM on a wide scale.
More widely, poverty, gender discrimination, lack of education and cultural expectations and young women in Sierra Leone are continuing to promote Bondo Society in its current form and preventing change that would save women and young girls from abuse. Some of them even lost their lives during the initiation process.
Samiella’s Grandmother Ms Mbalu Kanu who was the head of Bondo Society (Sowie) in Jangalor Village died on 7th March, 2021. After her death, her only daughter Mrs Agnes Lavaly, who was Samiella’s mother was to succeed her as head of society, been that Samiella mother was no more tradition demands that Samiella must be initiated into the Bondo Society and become head of the Society to succeed her late Grandmother.
According to success, Samiella whereabouts is unknown as she was last seen in 2019 after the political crisis in just concluded general election in the country, she is now by members of the traditional Bondo Society and family members in order for her to fulfill her traditional rights. Family sources also confirm that a bounty has been placed on her, that whoever will help them locate Samiella will be rewarded.
The Investigations continues.
