Celebratory closing ceremony

For the grand finale of the ritual, the participants return from the Bondo bush and are welcomed back with a celebration. They are given new clothes and jewellery and are congratulated and cheered by their families and the entire village community. In the original ritual, which involves FGM/C, the joy of the celebrations is often considerably diminished by severe pain, prolonged bleeding and the shock of the mutilation suffered. AIM’s alternative initiation ritual, on the other hand, in which the human rights violation FGM/C has no place, allows the young women to enjoy their day of joy without any restrictions!

All photos and videos in this gallery: © AIM