Potentials of Drama Therapy in Unmasking the Personae of Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation among the Kenyan Maasai
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Date
2017
Authors
Okoth, Zippora
Mugubi, John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of African Theatre, Film and Media Discourse
Abstract
Circumcision of females was and still remains a cultural practice in many
African communities. While modernity and access to education has led to
vilification of this tradition, the guardians and conservators of traditions
who perceive not virtue but abomination in this revolution intrepidly use
myths and falsehoods to sustain the tradition. Where that does not work,
force is used. The Maasai are such a community where circumcision of
women is still entrenched and highly esteemed. Some girls manage to
escape but the effects of the harrowing escape remain. Subsequently, this
study proceeds from the postulation that drama therapy is a useful tool
not only to reach out to the survivors of any form of distress but also as
an avenue for helping the victims cope while enhancing their selfexpression by obliterating the facade engendered by the trauma. Our
contention is that as a tool for unlocking the voices of Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM) survivors, drama therapy creates a safe and playful
environment where the survivors are able to act out their anxieties, fears
and mental conflicts and reclaim their true beings, dreams and positions in
society. In this way, drama therapy provides a platform on which the
stigma related to FGM emotions can be expelled. While using various
drama therapy techniques such as story-telling, poetry, role playing, song
and dance, this paper examines and establishes how drama therapy can be
used as an effective tool in regaining the real persona of survivors of
Female Genital Mutilation. The study employs Nietzsche’s Will to Power
theory and Rogerian theory of self in interrogating the potentials of drama
therapy. Nietzsche’s Will to Power theory has been used to explore
underlying motives behind the survivors’ rebellion against Female Genital
Mutilation whereas Rogerian theory of Self has been used in exploring the
survivors’ perception of their world, perception of the concepts of
freedom, choice and personal responsibility, particularly after surviving
Female Genital Mutilation. The study utilizes control-group as its research
design while engaging in-depth interviews, questionnaires, focus group
discussions and participatory theatre to obtain data for analysis. The data
collected was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Description
A research article published in Journal of African Theatre, Film and Media Discourse
Keywords
Drama Therapy, Female Genital Mutilation, Kenyan Maasai
Citation
Okoth, Z., & Mugubi, J. (2020). Potentials of Drama Therapy in Unmasking the Personae of Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation among the Kenyan Maasai. Journal of African Theatre, Film and Media Discourse, 1(1), 5-34. https://doi.org/10.33886/kujat.v1i1.123