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Arts & Communication Documentary to support #EndFGM in Kenya

the opinions of many audience members. However, the
form inclusion was very different. In The Gambia, the
president, Adama Barrow (e. 2017), had never spoken
publicly about FGM and the law before he was interviewed
by Ceesay for My FGM Story (2020). This interview was
therefore considered pivotal to many who viewed the film,
including Ceesay’s mother, who said it was the reason she
changed her mind about FGM and no longer supported
the practice. In contrast, in Kenya, President Kenyatta, has
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spoken publicly about FGM often and pledged to put an
end to it completely in Kenya by the end of his term in 2022.
While he did not achieve this goal, the number of girls and
women in Kenya who currently undergo FGM stands at Figure 4. Kaunga interviewing Shurie Lentir, a professional circumciser.
9
Adapted from. Copyright © 2022 Author.
14.8%, and this number is falling further due to effective
interventions by the AFMB and grassroots activists.
is planning to have her granddaughters cut, makes it
Finally, while the practice of FGM is something that clear that part of the reason for her decision is that the
happens to girls and women, both films recognize that community will give her food and gifts on the day as part
there is also an impact on men. However, the roles men of the celebrations. These donations will make a difference
play in both the community and the #EndFGM campaign in her life and she is looking forward to receiving them.
in The Gambia and Kenya are very different. In The
Gambia, the professional circumcisers are women and it Among the Maasai in Kenya, the #EndFGM campaign
is usually the mother or female relatives who will take the is, in part, being led by men. Some of the most well-known
young girl to undergo FGM. Men rarely take part in the and influential male activists here are members of the
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FGM ceremonies and most do not know what it involves. Warriors cricket team and the NGO Men Against FGM,
When Gambian men were shown footage of a young led by Jeremiah Kipainoi. The Kenyan #EndFGM campaign
girl enduring FGM in My FGM Story (2020), they were focuses on changes to tradition and uses examples of other
shocked. Their reactions resonated with audiences during traditions that have changed over the years. The campaign
impact research. As a result of the dominance of women talks about the human rights of young girls, including the
in the Gambian practice of FGM, the local #EndFGM right not to be harmed and the right to education. The
campaign is also mainly driven by women. However, any goal is to change the way girls and women are valued by
individual changes in tradition, including the decision society such that they are seen by their families as more
against FGM, would usually involve the male head of the than “property” to be sold for a bride price.
household. In My FGM Story (2020), local journalists and 5. Conclusion
NGOs advised the filmmakers to include footage of men
speaking out against FGM as they would be influential The first hypothesis for this article was that the process of
with male members of the audience. This was indeed making My FGM Story, Kenya would be similar to that of
reflected in the results of the impact research. The health making My FGM Story (2020) in The Gambia. This proved
professional featured in the film, Mass Laye, is well known to be the case. Both projects involved collaborations
in The Gambia as a male #EndFGM advocate, and in My between filmmakers and activists, and the format of
FGM Story (2020). He spoke against FGM as both a danger having a strong local presenter who could connect with the
to a woman’s physical health and her ability to enjoy sexual audience worked well. The second hypothesis was that the
intercourse. contents necessary for each film would differ from country
to country. This also proved to be the case. The filmmakers
In Kenya, the men of the Maasai tradition are very
involved in the FGM ceremonies, and it is often seen as in Kenya viewed My FGM Story (2020) before making their
film, and while they thought some contents resembled
a time of celebration. Professional circumcisers are paid what they believed would have an impact in Kenya, a lot of
money to perform FGM on girls, and families are also content was irrelevant to the situation in Kenya.
“paid” by the community when their girls are cut (Figure 4).
The grandmother in the film, My FGM Story, Kenya, who Research into the impact of the film My FGM Story
(2020) demonstrated that documentary films can

3 Since this interview, President Barrow has rarely spoken out contribute to changing common Gambian understandings,
against FGM, and in July 2024, his government narrowly beliefs, and attitudes regarding the practice of FGM. The
defeated a proposed bill to overturn the law. film motivated some people to voice their previously

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 6 doi: 10.36922/ac.3725