SaturdaysonCNN INTERNATIONAL630, 1030, 1430 GMT730, 1130, 1530 CET
May 12th, 2011
10:50 PM ET
In Kenya, traditional beads that bring suffering for girls
The Samburu tribe in Kenya is known throughout the country for its lavish beaded adornments. The tribe is poor, so these pieces of jewelry are quite valuable to the community. But their significance isn't just monetary.
In one tradition of the Samburu, a male family member will place these beads around the neck of a young girl in the tribe. According to tradition, the man is then permitted to have sex with the girl. It is something that has gone on for as long as the people of the Samburu tribe can remember. And stories of hidden pregnancies, and violent abortions aren't uncommon in this part of the country.
David McKenzie went to visit the Samburu with an activist who is working to stop this practice.
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The story is great.
Wow! Am a kenyan an don't even know that this is happening...sad!
this is a callous culture that has no regard for the female child.what kind of culture would hold its people to such ransome.does it address the issue of marriage.this is not fair at all and its a modern day sex slavery.
Do your research people! This is NOT the meaning of beading AND this does NOT happen in Samburu. I myself have been to Samburu more than once. I lived, worked closely with and even cared for the Samburu people and NEVER witnessed anything like this. In fact, The Samburu community love and care for all within their community. It's "the outsiders", some Kenyan, some from other countries who have and continue to hurt them just like this article is trying to do!!! It makes me sick to my stomach. Perhaps these so called girls who are pregnant out of wedlock or by a relative are in fact much older than you're saying and or are pregnant be "an outsider" raping her. That is what really goes on! The government is supposed to protect them but instead forces them into such a vulnerable state then rapes and or hurts them; this is THE TRUTH and there is much proof that this has gone on. How can a Samburu women give birth to a 1/2 Asian or Caucasian child, hmmm????? The Samburu people are very sensitive, smart and hard working. Their culture, that they believe in and live by, makes nothing but sense. If only we could all stand up for what we believe in. It's a damn same that they continue to be punished, some even killed for just simply trying to survive. Look more closely into what is and has been going on in Samburu over the last few years (perhaps longer) and you will be SHOCKED at what you find. We need to help and support these people or simply leave them alone and allow them continue living their lives, happily like they deserve!
Tanzaniais the best place for a safari as it has the Ngorongoro its the best plcaes every to see lions too its also crater is also a natural wonderSerengeti is also a nice place were you would see a lot of cats familymanyara is a nice place too with lots or flamingyou could always get nice hotels and nice package deals there are 5 star hotels too.
Jodi, thanks for shedding some light on the subject. Is it mostly tourists that do this and take advantage of young girls? Why would CNN try to mislead people?
Hi. Im a Samburu Kenyan and I can conform that beading exists, right in the villge. I only managed tp escape the beding because my Aunty, not my mother, my aunty helped me scape a 3am at night. I cannot even begn to tll you ghe horros of what my cousins, firends, sisters have been put through. To even talk about this within the family as negtive is taboo, o report about it is taboo and o have somenone ven say that it does not exist, is like raping the gilrs one more time. The world needs to know what he Samburu and Maasai gairls have to endure. We love our families, but it is not right to foce an under age to have sex with an adult, in Europe, Africa or US. It is a crime which needs t be stopped,
Really enjoying this blog. Having been there so many times, didn't except to learn new stuff, but never knew all the doors to the house faced either Mount Kenya or Mount Nyero. Look forward to the next one.
@Mona,
I find your comment so sincere and moving. Thank you for sharing. Sexual abuse and those hush hush things in families ... and I understand what you mean... need to be spoken out abut. If not they enchain people for ages. It is not only the Maasai who do these things. We must act! Thanks Mona.
There are no words to dscriebe how bodacious this is.
Beautiful snapshots of an aazimng country. I'm woefully undertraveled when it comes to Africa I've only ever been to Rwanda and South Africa (and Morocco if you count that, which I don't) but I'm excited to see Ghana this fall and what I think/hope will be another true slice of African culture.
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