Female Genital Mutilation and Repressive Boundaries: Representations in Mabel Evwierhoma’s “The Cut Across”

Abstract

Representation is one of the creative tools used in play text to interrogate or reinforce consciousness or awareness of certain nagging socio-cultural practices in society. In recent times, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a disturbing cultural practice in Nigeria, has received scant attention despite mounting global pressure to curb the devastating practice. Scant involvement of playwrights in the fight against FGM reduces the collective efforts towards the ill-disposed cultural practice in various parts of Nigeria. This paper examined Mabel Evwierhoma’s “The Cut Across” (2022) to reveal issues surrounding the practice of FGM with attention to its repressive effects and possible reasons for sustaining the tradition. The paper deployed textual analysis and Theatre for Development (TFD) as a conceptual frame of reference.  The study arrived at the fact that FGM is practised in many communities because of ignorance, fear of speaking out or being banished from the community. Also, the custodians of many communities believe that FGM eliminates infidelity. However, the revealed complications, infections, barrenness, depression, sexual rigidity and death as consequences of FGM practices. The text also emphasised exposure and education as instruments that can help women fight injustices and injurious traditions. It was recommended that Theatre for Development should be considered as a viable platform for raising issues of social change, especially for rigid traditional practices such as FGM in Nigeria.

Keywords: Local Birth Attendants, Local Circumcisers, Theatre for Development, Ill-disposed cultural practice, Repressive trends, Drama therapy