Female Genital Mutilation.

Even the term is terrifying to the ears of western women. And in the stunning and controversial book The Day Kadi Lost a Part of Her Life, Kim Manresa, who won several awards for this book including the Silver Medal for Photojournalism, the Visa d'Or for L'Image del Festival International du Photojournalisme in Perpignan and the Human Rights Award for the International Week of Photojournalism and Isabel Ramos Rioja fully and explictly document not only the historicity of the process, but actual visual representation of it.

I first became aware of FGM back in the nineties when one of my favourite musicians, Johnette Napolitano, wrote a song covering it (which I also highly recommend, but that perhaps for another article). After researching it, I was horrified to discover that this was a common practice in several countries around the world and embarked to become as involved as possible in educating others in order to eventually bring it to late in hopes of eradicating it entirely.

Some background: Every year, over two million girls and women undergo FGM. The practice, which removes all or part of the female genitalita by generally one of three procedures:

Clitoridectomy, amputation of sections of, or all of the clitoris;

Excision, amputation of the clitoris and the labia minora;

Infibulation, also known as pharonic circumcision, is the most drastic form of FGM practiced, which includes excision and further cuts being made to the labia majora to cause raw surfaces which are then sewn or clipped together to cause the two flaps to join allowing only a small opening for the purposes of urination, menstruation and intercourse.


It is practiced in over 28 African nations and reported among Muslim populations in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malayasia, although there are no absolute figures as to how widespread it is within those countries. It is performed without benefit of anesthetic or medical tools, is a tradition that spans centuries and predates both Islam and Christianity. It is important to note that the majority of Muslims as well as Christians are vehemently opposed to FGM.

The prologue, penned by Olayinka Koso-Thomas's, details that it is "typical of every little girl who lives in a community where to be loved, married, and held in high esteem requires you to be genitally mutilated. Failure to undergo the operation leads to harassment, ridicule, abuse, trauma, and eventual ostracism from one's community".

When I first picked up this book, there was nothing in the cover that would indicate the horror that lay within. It begins with photographs. of Kadi, showing her as a beautiful, smiling four year old girl awaiting her ‘initiation’. The reader is drawn in as the tale becomes devastatingly clear – one woman holding her down while the other slices away at her genitalia. Each picture tells its own story, unfolding into a horrific event that will leave the reader disturbed for longer than it takes to read the book.

Much, much longer. Even now writing this, I cannot shake the violence of the assault on my own feminine sensibilities. I defy even one woman to view this book and not become infuriated by the last page. And I think that was exactly the point of Mancesa – to show, rather than tell. Pictures in this case being more than anything words can ever tell. The choice of black and white pictures as opposed to color do nothing to lessen the impact of horror upon the reader.

I recommend this book, not for its somewhat exploitative nature – I have to imagine Kim Manresa possesses a heart of stone to have been able to stand still to photograph these scenes – but for the very shaking and horrific images that it unseats within the viewer. I think after everything I have reads regarding FGM – this book alone was what really brought it home. The last image of the book, with Kadi standing alone in a hut where she is not allowed to cry or weep, and where she must stay until her wounds are healed, may be even the most disturbing image of all.

The book is published by Spinifex Press, with part of the proceeds dedicated to the London based non-government organisation FORWARD (the Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development) who work internationally for the elimination of female genital mutilation worldwide.

A final note: one review on Amazon.ca notes this book as 'A must for every coffee table". I wouldn't go that far - this is not something you would ever want anyone (let alone a child) to stumble upon. But as far as bringing a horrific vision to life in a way that only pictures ever can, this book will singularly change your perspective on the horror that FGM is, if not your life.