The traditional anchoring of FGM in Burkina Faso: the decisive role of community

Abstract

When interviewing experts on the subject of FGM in Burkina Faso, many refer to the practice’s embedding in the traditional culture of the country. They emphasise the necessity of understanding these cultural foundations in order to understand the reasons for the continuation of FGM. The complex web of traditional and cultural substructures in Burkina Faso influences and reflects the tradition of FGM, and determines the difficulty of understanding the patterns and outcomes of the practice.