honorable mention
Maria Tomas-Rodriguez united kingdomPhoto © Maria Tomas-Rodriguez
title
Tradition
London based engineer working as senior university lecturer.
Non-professional photographer. Documentary and portraits are my favourite type of photos.
Travel to Africa often as on my free time I do collaborate with a charity working in the field of education.
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entry description
I met these boys, all members of the same family, during their seclusion period following their circumcision. I was visiting their family and they invited me to see them as a welcoming gesture and as a matter of family pride. Traditionally, women cannot see the circumcised boys during seclusion period. It was a great portrait opportunity for me. Their traditional circumcision gowns, body positions and faces shocked me. Male circumcision is one of the oldest and most widespread surgical procedures in the world performed in pre-pubertal boys, adolescents or adults. In Senegal, male circumcision is considered essential to become a full member of society. Because it is a strong cultural practice, traditional male circumcision is usually not an optional procedure upon which an individual may decide. Community involvement before, during and after traditional male circumcision is strong. Three phases describe the ritual of male circumcision: preparation leading to the actual procedure, a period of seclusion whilst healing, and reintegration of the initiates into their society. Female circumcision has, by contrast, been banned in Senegal since 1999.about the photographer
Spanish national.London based engineer working as senior university lecturer.
Non-professional photographer. Documentary and portraits are my favourite type of photos.
Travel to Africa often as on my free time I do collaborate with a charity working in the field of education.
back to gallery