By Sheku Amos Sesay
The head of the Bondo Society in Ronbaka Chiefdom, Northern Sierra Leone, Ya Alimamy Bomposseh Kamara has urged Madam Marian Kargbo to assume her late mother’s traditional role in the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), locally known as the Bondo Society.
Speaking to The Watch Newspaper, Madam Kamara stated that, as tradition dictates, Marian Kargbo must inherit the position previously held by her late mother, Ya Bomporo. According to Kamara, Ya Bomporo was responsible for crowning FGM initiators (Sowies) in the northern region and was a senior member of the Sowie Council in Sierra Leone, making her a highly influential figure in the practice.
“Tradition demands that Marian takes over this role because her mother, Ya Bomporo, personally named her as her successor before passing away,” Kamara emphasized. She further revealed that Ya Bomporo herself had inherited the position from her mother, Ya Kapri, maintaining what Kamara described as a long-standing family pattern in the Bondo Society.
To enforce this demand, Kamara disclosed that circulars have been sent to all FGM units in the country, calling for Marian Kargbo to comply with tradition and assume the role or face consequences.
Human rights activists in Sierra Leone have consistently raised concerns over the harmful nature of FGM, calling for the government to take action. However, successive administrations have largely ignored these concerns, given the Bondo Society’s significant influence in elections.
“Every government official, whether male or female, has connections to the Bondo Society or the Poro Society,” said Mohamed Kamara, a human rights activist. “This is why past and present governments have remained silent on this diabolical practice.”
When contacted, officials from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender, and Children’s Affairs declined to comment, stating only that FGM is a traditional custom that the government cannot overrule.
Currently residing outside Sierra Leone, Marian Kargbo confirmed to The Watch Newspaper that she has been receiving multiple calls pressuring her to take up the role. However, she firmly rejected the demand, stating that FGM goes against her religious beliefs.
“I fear for my life,” Kargbo admitted. “My safety is more important.”
As the debate over FGM and its role in Sierra Leonean society continues, questions remain over whether Marian Kargbo will be forced into submission—or if the government will finally take a stand against this deeply rooted practice.
Stay tuned for updates as we follow this developing story.
