The Day Kadi Lost Part of Her Life
Kadi's first scream went through me like a dagger. … Kadi, the cheerful four-year-old … had just discovered pain, the horror of tradition. They had circumcised her…
The Day Kadi Lost Part of Her Life is the moving photostory of a four-year-old girl named Kadi who is subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) in accordance with the traditions of her community. Kadi's story is typical of every little girl who lives in a community where to be loved, married and held in high esteem requires you to be genitally mutilated. —Dr Olayinka Koso-Thomas, from the Prologue. Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. — Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 Royalties go to FORWARD (the Foundation for Women’s Health, Research and Development) who work internationally for the elimination of FGM worldwide. Our intention in publishing this book is to bring a wider awareness of FGM and encourage readers to speak out against it.
1999 | ISBN 9781875559749 | Paperback | 263 x 263 mm | 43 pp
Awards
1999 Shortlisted, Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing
Human Rights Award for the International Week of Photojournalism of Gjon (Spain)
Visa d'Or for L'Image del Festival International du Photojournalisme in Perpignan (France)
Silver Medal for Photojournalism of the Society of Newspaper Design (USA)
Reviews
'I recommend this book ... for the very shaking and horrific images that it unseats within the viewer. I think after everything I have reads regarding FGM – this book alone was what really brought it home. The last image of the book, with Kadi standing alone in a hut where she is not allowed to cry or weep, and where she must stay until her wounds are healed, may be even the most disturbing image of all.'
–Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman, Bella Online
‘Spinifex Press should be congratulated for having the courage to publish this book and subsequently promoting a greater awareness of FGM in the community.’
–Healthsharing Women