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UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA FACULTY OF HUMANITIES A Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in African Languages and Literature THE TRANSFORMATION OF SWAHILI UNYAGO AND FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION INTO AN ALTERNATIVE RITE OF PASSAGE: A POSTSTRUCTURALIST APPROACH John Kirimi M‟Raiji ID NO: 201008214 Supervisor: Prof. E. Kezilahabi August 2015 University of Botswana 2015 i APPROVAL The undersigned hereby certify that he/she has read the dissertation entitled “The Transformation of Swahili Unyago and Female Genital Mutilation into an Alternative Rite of Passage: A Poststructuralist Approach” by John Kirimi M‟Raiji. This dissertation has been examined and approved as meeting the requirements of a fulfillment for the award of a Doctor of Philosophy in African Languages and Literature. Supervisor: Prof. Euphrase Kezilahabi Signature_______________________Date______________________ Advisor: Prof. James Amanze Signature _______________________Date______________________ Internal Examiner: Signature_______________________Date______________________ Co-Supervisors (i) Dr. R. O. B. Nhlekisana Signature_______________________Date______________ (i) Dr. P. S. Seloma Signature_______________________ Date______________ University of Botswana 2015 ii DECLARATION The author at the University of Botswana between August 2010 and February 2015 completed the work contained in this dissertation. It is original work except where due reference is made and neither has been nor will be submitted for any award of any other university unless otherwise stated. John Kirimi M‟Raiji _________________ August 2015 University of Botswana 2015 iii DEDICATION To the loving women in my life: my mum Peris Tirindi, my dear wife Susan Wambui, and my daughter Morin Kinya. This work demonstrates that „to educate a woman is to educate a generation‟. University of Botswana 2015 iv Abstract The Transformation of Swahili Unyago and Female Genital Mutilation into an Alternative Rite of Passage: A Poststructuralist Approach By John Kirimi M‟Raiji University of Botswana, 2015 Supervisor: Prof. E. Kezilahabi Since the colonial period, there have been attempts to eradicate female genital mutilation not only in Kenya but also in other parts of Africa where it is practiced. The efforts have not been fully successful due to the entrenchment of the practice among the communities that value it. This is despite the fact that previous studies have cited social, religious, economic and political factors as the main reasons why it is difficult to eradicate female genital mutilation. Scholars have also not taken the trouble to investigate how female circumcision became so well established as to render it difficult to stop. In addition, neither have the preceding studies investigated the philosophical perspectives that may have led to the establishment and entrenchment of the ritual. This study fills that gap by investigating unyago and female genital mutilation with the aim of understanding the dynamics that were used to perpetuate them, as well as how the Swahili unyago as practiced by the Swahili of Mumias, was adapted in the form of an alternative rite of passage by other communities. The field research involved identifying, sampling, recording and interviewing the stakeholders who included community members involved in unyago and female circumcision. These included the novices, the circumcisers, community and religious leaders, performers as well as alternative rite of passage animators and participants. Some information was also collected from the internet and the media. The analysis used poststructuralist approaches, including deconstruction á lá Derrida, as well as existential philosophy based on Heidegger‟s Dasein (being there). Theories of feminist poststructuralism and gender were also employed to elicit the male/female dichotomy and unity in the community‟s perceptions. The research determined that there is an underlying philosophical frame enshrined in beliefs, superstitions, taboos and identity formation. It further established that punishment, such as through intimidation, excommunication, ridicule, and a compliance and reward v system were employed to entrench and enforce the practices. The findings indicate that female circumcision was, and is still, entrenched through cultural reproduction mechanisms during seasonally repeated folklore performance to ensure that it is passed on from one generation to another. The study also reports that the unyago practiced by the Swahili of Mumias, which has no circumcision component, has been adapted and adopted by the government and other organisations in an effort to eradicate female circumcision in Kenya. The research identifies the major impediment to eradicating female circumcision as being cultural reproduction through ritualization. For that reason, the thesis proposes that in order to successfully eradicate female circumcision, a philosophical approach positing an alternative but popularly acceptable ritual similar to the Swahili unyago wa mfereji is needed. University of Botswana 2015 vi ABBREVIATIONS ARP: Alternative Rites of Passage CBO: Community Based Organization CEDAW: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women FGD: Focus Group Discussion FGM: Female Genital Mutilation, also referred to as, female genital cutting or female circumcision. FPAK: Family Planning Association of Kenya GOK: Government of Kenya GTZ: German Technical Cooperation Agency (Deutsche Gessellschaft fúr Technische Zusammenarbeit) IOM: International Organization for Migration KDHS: Kenya Demographic and Health Survey KNBS: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics KNCHR: Kenya National Commission on Human Rights KTN: Kenya Television Network MDG: Millennium Development Goals MYWO: Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization NGO: Non-Governmental Organization NTV: Nation Television PATH: Program for Appropriate Technology in Health TNI: Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFPA: United Nations Fund for Population Fund UNHCR: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees WHO: World Health Organization vii Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Study Background ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.3. Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................................... 7 1.4. Justification and Significance of the Study ......................................................................................... 8 1.5. Objectives of the Study ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.6. Research Questions ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.7. Hypotheses /Assumptions ................................................................................................................... 9 1.8. Scope and Limitations of the Study ................................................................................................... 10 1.9. Research Procedure and Techniques ................................................................................................. 10 1.10. Presentation of the Study ................................................................................................................. 11 CHAPTER 2 ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 13 2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2. Study Design ..................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3. Study Loci ......................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4. Population and Sample Size .............................................................................................................. 15 2.5. Sampling Techniques ........................................................................................................................ 16 2.6. Data Gathering Techniques ............................................................................................................... 17 2.7. Instruments for Data Collection ........................................................................................................ 18 2.8. Pilot Study ......................................................................................................................................... 18 2.9. Methods of Data Analysis ................................................................................................................