Secret Society Practitioners invades COVID-19 Restrictions
By Dauda Kamara
Despite, banned on public gathering as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, sowies belonging to the Bondo secret society continue to invade the restrictions. This medium have been informed about the ongoing secret society activities at night while the restriction is in force. The month December is always set aside for Bondo activities but the COVID-19 ravaging the world including Sierra Leone, the government have placed a banned on public gathering with intermittent lockdowns as and when necessary.
However, despite, the restriction, Sowies within the east of the capital continue to invade the restriction to carry out their Bondo activities at night.
Ya Alimmamy Gbom Saamba, head of the Sowies, Eastern Freetown and two others have been accused of doing night initiation despite the banned on public gathering is in place. Report states that two rituals have now been held in the Kissy Wharf as part of the initiation with over twenty girls been initiated into the secret society.
Community FGM Activist, Mohamed Sahid Camara informed Standard Times that the practice have been ongoing irrespective of the ban on public gathering and restriction on secret society.
Mr. Camara said the sowies are adamant and that the bondo initiation is done during the night in the community and despite his advocacy nothing seem to be done.
Camara’s mother, Madam Adama Njai also informed the newspaper that the practice continue and done mostly at night when people will be at sleep with ongoing restriction.
Camara’s Mother was part of the bondo society, but has now distance the practice to join her son in talking against activities of the secret society.
Activist Camara also gave troubling explanation of the night activities of the Sowies, and even accused members of the police forced who provide security for the initiators at night.
“This is bad, and is not helping the fight against COVID-19. This is the more reason we are struggling as a community in fighting the pandemic that is ravaging the country. The government need to intervene by putting a stop to these women who are bent on this practice,” he said.
December, is the time most Bondo initiations take place because of the holidays. Though Camara and his mother are scared of reprisal from the societal women who seem to be too powerful but believed it is the right thing to do by exposing them.
In Sierra Leone the most common public health measure taken by States against COVID-19 has been restricting freedom of movement. These restrictions were necessary to decrease the transmission of COVID-19 from the epicentre in Freetown to rural districts.
Notwithstanding these restrictions, members of the Bondo secret society for women are now violating the restrictions by doing night initiations.
