This is the story of a country where the path to womanhood can bring pain, trauma, and even death. A country where children can be left motherless because of the ancient traditions of Bondo - a Sierra Leone secret society which cuts out female genitals as part of centuries old rite of passage ceremonies. FGM – female genital mutilation – is woven so deeply into the female fabric of Sierra Leone, most women there have had their genitalia cut. No-one really knows how many have died as a result.
BBC Africa Eye reporter, Tyson Conteh, believes his former girlfriend, Fatmata, bled to death after undergoing FGM in 2016. He investigates whether her death was then covered up to protect Bondo. It is a journey driven by Fatmata, who, says Tyson, spoke to him in his dreams demanding justice.
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Africa Eye brings you original, investigative journalism revealing secrets and rooting out injustice in the world’s most complex and exciting continent. Nothing stays hidden forever.
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Credits:
With thanks to PfefferminzGreen for additional archive
Reporter and Director - Tyson Conteh
Editor, Africa Eye - Tom Watson
Edit Producers - Andy Bell, Chris Alcock, Sam Liebmann
Producer - Banker White
Film Editor - Simon Thorne BFE
Additional Editing - Adam Richardson BFE, Gary Beelders BFE
Re-versioning Producer - Anna Payton
Social Media Producer - Anusha Kumar
Digital Producer - Tamasin Ford
Production Coordinator - Sarah Clarke, Max Murrain
Production Manager - Simon Frost
Sound Mix - Jez Spencer
Colourist - Boyd Nagle
Fixers - Franklin M’cormack, John F Conteh, Senesie Denson Amara
Camera - Alhaji Barrie, Ibrahim J Kamara, Santigie Kargbo, Chernor M Thoronka, Karim Shah, Thomas Triebel
Sound - Santos M A Conteh, Osman M Kargbo
Translators - Karim Kargbo, Gibrilla S Conteh, Magaret Deen, Memunatu N Kamara
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#SierraLeone #FGM #bondo
