Presenting “Silent Voices” Collection By British Somali Writers

An exciting new collection of work by young British Somali writers called ‘Silent Voices’ is out now. It includes ‘The Gift’ by Zahrah Awaleh; a dark, angry and moving monologue describing a young Somali woman’s account of her feelings about FGM and her decision to have a reversal operation. The piece is fictitious, but the issues within it are very real and relevant to the debate on FGM.

The Gift – an excerpt:
I have an appointment today to see a doctor at Guy’s Hospital for an operation. Not no ordinary hospital operation. I was circumcised at the age of 8; well actually it wasn’t a circumcision, because if it had been there’d be no reason for me to see this doctor today. ‘Circumcision’ is the politically correct name for what happened to me. It even sounds acceptable, pleasing with its soft sibilants; clinically sound: ‘circumcision with precision’. Bloodless, painless, unconscious even. An everyday affair. Numb. What about Female Genital Cutting, or FGC? More upfront, but still sterile and neat. It keeps those who practise it happy enough perhaps, as it’s quite neutral, non-judgmental I suppose. On the other hand, Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, is more blatant, offensive and refreshing in some ways. Mutilation can be done with or without consent, but ultimately, in my opinion, mutilation sounds like it’s done by force and with malice. Some motheres say they do it as an ‘act of love’. Perhaps, that’s what their mothers told them.

‘Silent Voices’ can now be found at Amazon.