3 months ago
18
I put it on my face and body, said a witch doctor who would smear himself with a "
magic
" potion made out of the clitoris of a girl subjected to female genital mutilation in
West African nation
of Ivory Coast.
"I wanted to be a big chief, I wanted to dominate," Moussa Diallo, who asked not to be addressed by his real name, told AFP.
For about three years, Diallo, who now campaigns against FGM, applied this potion to his face and body every few months, believing it would help him achieve power and influence.
In several regions of Ivory Coast, genitalia removed during illegal "circumcision" ceremonies are used to create "
love potions
" or magical ointments. These substances are believed by some to grant financial success or political advancement, explained Labe Gneble, head of the National Organisation for Women, Children and the Family (ONEF).
'Black powder': Ground-up clit sold for over $170
A ground-up clitoris can fetch up to $170—an amount equivalent to the monthly earnings of many Ivorian families.
Describing the process, Diallo said, "When they would cut the clitorises they would dry them for a month or two then pound them with stones," the end result being a "black powder."
He added that it would be mixed with "leaves, roots and bark" or shea butter often used in cosmetics.
The genitalia could be sold for approximately "100,000 CFA Francs (152 euros) if the girl was a virgin," or "65,000 CFA Francs (99 euros) if she had already given birth." Alternatively, it could be traded for goods and services, he said.
Female circumcision has been practiced across various religions in West Africa for centuries, typically performed on girls between childhood and adolescence.
Many families view it as a rite of passage or a means to control and suppress female sexuality.
Unicef condemns this practice, describing it as a severe violation of girls' fundamental rights and a dangerous act.
