3 - Reinterpretation of “Traditional” Bodily Modifications by Young People in Contemporary Zimbabwe
Corresponding Author(s) : Hellen Venganai
Africa Development,
Vol. 43 No. 1 (2018): Africa Development: Special Issue on: (Re)making bodies – The Structures and Dynamics of Aesthetics and Aspirations in an Evolving Africa
Abstract
There is a rising critique against the dominant but negative Western discursive construction of ‘traditional’ bodily modification practices in Africa. This article takes issue with conventional representations of some African bodily modification practices as not only traditional but also disempowering. It draws on different and diverse accounts from urban middle class Shona women and men in Zimbabwe about ‘traditional’ practices of male circumcision and labia elongation. It also examines the different and complex connections people make between these gendered practices and issues of (sexual) desire, pleasure, and bodily aesthetics in relation to gendered identities. Based on my reflections of this research, the article demonstrates that the ways in which women and men make sense of their contemporary identities (in relation to these ‘traditional’ practices connected with sexuality) are embedded in a multiplicity of particular global and localised discourses on (anti)colonialism, religion, culture/tradition, modernity, and gender. In attempting to destabilise particular social categories, this article argues for the importance of engaging critically with people’s contradictory understandings and experiences of these practices in postcolonial African countries.
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- Aidoo, A.A., 1998, ‘The African Woman Today’, In O. Nnaemeka (ed) Sisterhood, Feminisms and Power: From Africa to the Diaspora. Trenton, Asmara: Africa World Press, Inc. p. 39-50.
- Amadiume, I., 2006, ‘Sexuality, African religio-cultural traditions and modernity: Expanding the lens’, CODESRIA Bulletin, 1, pp. 26-28.
- Arnfred, S., 2004, Introduction, in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, pp. 7-29.
- Arnfred, S., 2011, Sexuality & Gender Politics in Mozambique: Rethinking Gender in Africa. Woodbridge: James Currey.
- Bagnol, B., and Mariano, E., 2011, ‘Politics of naming sexual practices’, in S. Tamale (ed.) African Sexualities: A reader, Cape Town. Dakar. Nairobi. Oxford: Pambazuka Press, pp. 271-287.
- Bhebe, H. S., 2014, Labia elongation and identity (re)construction among the Ndebele women of Zimbabwe. Unpublished PhD thesis: Anglia Ruskin University.
- Biri, K., 2011, ‘Same sex relationships: Perspectives from Shona traditional religion and culture in Zimbabwe’, Journal of Gender & Religion in Africa, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 160-174.
- Braun, V., 2010, ‘Female genital cosmetic surgery: A critical review of current knowledge and contemporary debates’, Journal of Women’s Health, Vol. 19, No. 7, pp. 1393-1407.
- Dellenborg, L., 2004, ‘A reflection on the cultural meanings of female circumcision: Experiences from fieldwork in Casamance, Southern Senegal’, in S. Arnfred (ed.) Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, pp. 79-94.
- Grassivaro Gallo, P. Villa, E., and Viviani, F., 2006, ‘Ritual labia minora elongation among the Baganda women of Uganda’, Psychopathologie Africaine, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 213-236.
- Gannon, S. & Davies, B., 2012, ‘Postmodern, Post-structural, and Critical theories’, in S. N. Hesse-Biber (ed.) The Handbook of Feminist Research: Theory and Praxis. Second Edition. Los Angeles. London. New Delhi. Singapore. Washington DC: Sage, pp. 65-91.
- Gelfand, M., 1973, The genuine Shona: Survival values of an African culture. Gwelo: Mambo Press.
- Khau, M., 2009, ‘Exploring sexual customs: Girls and the politics of elongating their inner labia. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, Vol. 23, No. 79, pp. 30-37.
- Larsen, J., 2010, ‘The social vagina: labia elongation and social capital among women in Rwanda’, Culture, Health & Sexuality, Vol. 12, No. 7, pp. 813-826.
- Machingura, F. and Nyakuhwa, P., 2015, ‘Sexism: A Hermetical Interrogation of Galatians 3:28 and Women in the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe’, The Journal of Pan African Studies, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 92-113.
- Mills, S., 2003, Michael Foucault. London. New York: Routledge.
- Nuttal, S., 2006, ‘Introduction: Rethinking Beauty’, in S. Nuttal (ed.) Beautiful Ugly: African and Diaspora Aesthetics, Cape Town: Kwela Books, pp. 6-29.
- Pattman, R., 2001, ‘The beer drinkers say I had a nice prostitute but the church goers talk about things spiritual’: Learning to be men at a teachers’ college in Zimbabwe’, in R. Morrell (Ed.), Changing Men in Southern Africa, Zed Books, pp. 225-238.
- Peltzer, K., C.I. Niang, A.S. Muula, K. Bowa, L. Okeke, H. Boiro, and C. Chimbwete, 2007, ‘Editorial review: Male circumcision, Gender and HIV prevention in sub- Saharan Africa: A Social Science Research Agenda’, SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 658-667.
- Pérez, G. M., Aznar, C.T. and Namulondo, H., 2014, ‘It’s all about sex: What urban Zimbabwean men know of labia minora elongation’, Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, Vol. 27, pp. 127-147.
- Spronk, R., 2014, ‘Sexuality and subjectivity: erotic practices and the question of bodily sensations’, Social Anthropology, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 3-21.
- Tamale, S., 2006, ‘Eroticism, sensuality and ‘women’s secrets’ among the Baganda’, IDS bulletin, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 89-97.
- Tamale, S., 2008, ‘The right to culture and the culture of rights: a critical perspective on women’s sexual rights in Africa’, Feminist Legal Studies, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 47-69.
- Venganai, H., 2012, ‘We See It Differently’ Examining Power/Knowledge in the Contestations of the WHO’s Interpretation of Male Circumcision, Unpublished thesis Erasmus University.
- Viviani, F., 2015, ‘Anthropological reflections on the interventions on genitalia’, Antrocom: Online Journal of Anthropology, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 19-40.
- Weedon, C., 1987, Feminist practice and poststructuralist theory, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
- Wester, K.B, n.d., ‘Violated: Women’s Human Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa’, Tropical Review Digest: Human Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 1-5.
References
Aidoo, A.A., 1998, ‘The African Woman Today’, In O. Nnaemeka (ed) Sisterhood, Feminisms and Power: From Africa to the Diaspora. Trenton, Asmara: Africa World Press, Inc. p. 39-50.
Amadiume, I., 2006, ‘Sexuality, African religio-cultural traditions and modernity: Expanding the lens’, CODESRIA Bulletin, 1, pp. 26-28.
Arnfred, S., 2004, Introduction, in Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, pp. 7-29.
Arnfred, S., 2011, Sexuality & Gender Politics in Mozambique: Rethinking Gender in Africa. Woodbridge: James Currey.
Bagnol, B., and Mariano, E., 2011, ‘Politics of naming sexual practices’, in S. Tamale (ed.) African Sexualities: A reader, Cape Town. Dakar. Nairobi. Oxford: Pambazuka Press, pp. 271-287.
Bhebe, H. S., 2014, Labia elongation and identity (re)construction among the Ndebele women of Zimbabwe. Unpublished PhD thesis: Anglia Ruskin University.
Biri, K., 2011, ‘Same sex relationships: Perspectives from Shona traditional religion and culture in Zimbabwe’, Journal of Gender & Religion in Africa, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 160-174.
Braun, V., 2010, ‘Female genital cosmetic surgery: A critical review of current knowledge and contemporary debates’, Journal of Women’s Health, Vol. 19, No. 7, pp. 1393-1407.
Dellenborg, L., 2004, ‘A reflection on the cultural meanings of female circumcision: Experiences from fieldwork in Casamance, Southern Senegal’, in S. Arnfred (ed.) Re-thinking Sexualities in Africa, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, pp. 79-94.
Grassivaro Gallo, P. Villa, E., and Viviani, F., 2006, ‘Ritual labia minora elongation among the Baganda women of Uganda’, Psychopathologie Africaine, Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 213-236.
Gannon, S. & Davies, B., 2012, ‘Postmodern, Post-structural, and Critical theories’, in S. N. Hesse-Biber (ed.) The Handbook of Feminist Research: Theory and Praxis. Second Edition. Los Angeles. London. New Delhi. Singapore. Washington DC: Sage, pp. 65-91.
Gelfand, M., 1973, The genuine Shona: Survival values of an African culture. Gwelo: Mambo Press.
Khau, M., 2009, ‘Exploring sexual customs: Girls and the politics of elongating their inner labia. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, Vol. 23, No. 79, pp. 30-37.
Larsen, J., 2010, ‘The social vagina: labia elongation and social capital among women in Rwanda’, Culture, Health & Sexuality, Vol. 12, No. 7, pp. 813-826.
Machingura, F. and Nyakuhwa, P., 2015, ‘Sexism: A Hermetical Interrogation of Galatians 3:28 and Women in the Church of Christ in Zimbabwe’, The Journal of Pan African Studies, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 92-113.
Mills, S., 2003, Michael Foucault. London. New York: Routledge.
Nuttal, S., 2006, ‘Introduction: Rethinking Beauty’, in S. Nuttal (ed.) Beautiful Ugly: African and Diaspora Aesthetics, Cape Town: Kwela Books, pp. 6-29.
Pattman, R., 2001, ‘The beer drinkers say I had a nice prostitute but the church goers talk about things spiritual’: Learning to be men at a teachers’ college in Zimbabwe’, in R. Morrell (Ed.), Changing Men in Southern Africa, Zed Books, pp. 225-238.
Peltzer, K., C.I. Niang, A.S. Muula, K. Bowa, L. Okeke, H. Boiro, and C. Chimbwete, 2007, ‘Editorial review: Male circumcision, Gender and HIV prevention in sub- Saharan Africa: A Social Science Research Agenda’, SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 658-667.
Pérez, G. M., Aznar, C.T. and Namulondo, H., 2014, ‘It’s all about sex: What urban Zimbabwean men know of labia minora elongation’, Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, Vol. 27, pp. 127-147.
Spronk, R., 2014, ‘Sexuality and subjectivity: erotic practices and the question of bodily sensations’, Social Anthropology, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 3-21.
Tamale, S., 2006, ‘Eroticism, sensuality and ‘women’s secrets’ among the Baganda’, IDS bulletin, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 89-97.
Tamale, S., 2008, ‘The right to culture and the culture of rights: a critical perspective on women’s sexual rights in Africa’, Feminist Legal Studies, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 47-69.
Venganai, H., 2012, ‘We See It Differently’ Examining Power/Knowledge in the Contestations of the WHO’s Interpretation of Male Circumcision, Unpublished thesis Erasmus University.
Viviani, F., 2015, ‘Anthropological reflections on the interventions on genitalia’, Antrocom: Online Journal of Anthropology, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 19-40.
Weedon, C., 1987, Feminist practice and poststructuralist theory, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
Wester, K.B, n.d., ‘Violated: Women’s Human Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa’, Tropical Review Digest: Human Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 1-5.