Dreamcatcher

This tale from the Dogon people of Mali recounts the beginning of a horrible tradition: female genital mutilation, or female castration. This practice is sometimes euphemistically referred to as female circumcision. It is a cultural (not religious) practice found throughout Africa and the Near East and India; though practiced by Muslims, it is found nowhere in the Qur’an.

This practice is found particularly in societies which place a high stake on female virginity and patrilineality: if a woman cannot feel sexual pleasure, she will remain a virgin until marriage, and not stray after marriage. Sadly, it is usually women who perform this rite on other women.

In the beginning lived Amma the Sky Father and Earth Mother. Amma desired children. He wished to mate with Earth Mother, that She might bear Him children. Amma the Sky Father descended from high above and attempted to mate with Earth Mother–but He could not. Amma attempted to mate with Earth Mother a second time and then a third. But each time, He failed. Finally, Great Amma realized that something was blocking His entrance into Earth Mother. It was Her clitoris, Her under-developed female penis. It was in the likeness of a termite mound, standing tall and proud upon Her surface. So Amma Sky Father, Who wished to mate with Earth Mother and sire children, took His knife and cut off Her clitoris.

Earth Mother quaked.

Then Amma attempted to mate with Earth Mother for the fourth time, and this time He succeeded. He sired many children.