While African governments continue to bring a much needed awareness on the intricacies surrounding the traditions, customs and perhaps, horror about circumcising girls, there’s still much to be done. Female circumcision, which occurs in a few parts of Africa, still remains a challenge to all Africans in totally eradicating it.
Lost Maiden was a unique film for this reason; looking at female circumcision in present-day Africa. I had always associated the practice with uninformed village women, hunting down unwilling maidens to perpetuate and enforce the custom.
Chisom Oz-Lee plays the unstoppable Dr. Jodi, who elects to complete a residency, with women suffering from post-circumcision complications. A television segment, pitting respect of tradition against medical sanity ignites her devotion. Director Moses Inwang truly weaves a very realistic story, with the crusade of Dr. Jodi.
Female circumcision still thrives in some modern African societies, as opposed to remote African villages as a result of strong inextricable ethnic ties with traditions and customs. In fact, a king educated in the western ways, permits the rites of coercion against the women in his realm.
The irony of Lost Maiden is that this tradition is harming the communities. Some women die, some are living-dead, some are rebellious and some are resigned. An eye-opening spectrum of women’s responses, to the tyrannies of tradition, is presented.
The male point of view indicates that men are negatively impacted by the sequela of circumcision. Kalu Ikeagwu plays the conflicted Dr. Phil, who must reconcile respect of ancestral wishes, with the medical safety of women in his village.
The practice persists in some parts of Africa and to every African, it is probably closer than you might have imagined. It also turns out that the pillars of tradition are unreliable. As you watch men round women up, for this rite of passage, you will realize that defending tradition is actually a subterfuge for power.
Tradition has merely become an instrument to cement selfish individuals in place, at the expense of others. Customs are not adopted because of their existence from time immemorial, but because special interests must be protected, at all costs. Lost Maiden will lift the veil off your eyes, making you more aware of your surroundings.
Director: Moses Inwang
Starring: Chisom Oz-Lee, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Kalu Ikeagwu, Bimbo Akintola, Ngozi Ezeonu
