In Samburu, Kenya, there is a practice known as beading where older men place a chain made up of bright beads around a girl’s neck, after getting their parents’ consent to be able to have sex with them.
The girls are as young as 6 years old. It has led to many statutory rapes. It is believed that the main aim of the beading is to prepare the young girl for marriage in the future. Since the moran and his beaded girl are relatives, and the girl is uncircumcised, both marriage and pregnancy are forbidden.
If the girl happens to fall pregnant, the pregnancy has to be terminated through cruel abortion conducted by elderly women. If the beaded girl gives birth, the child has to be killed through herbs poisoning, since the child is perceived to be an outcast. The lucky babies who survive are given out to other communities like the Turkana tribe.
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In addition to life threatening early pregnancies and abortions, the practice of beading exposes young girls to physical, mental and sexual violence. The opinion of the girl does not matter when the beading relationship is negotiated. There’s no informed consent, but the negotiation is held between the warrior and the mother and brothers of the chosen girl.
Victor Jon Snow said: “Some of our cultural practices were specifically aimed at eroding the dignity of women and immolating children on the altars of depravity. Tradition is prison with majority opinion, just because your ancestors did it doesn’t mean it’s not incredibly foul.”
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