Victoria Inyama joined media personality Daddy Freeze on Instagram Live to recount a childhood circumcision she underwent in a village while living with her grandmother. She said she was about five or six years old and had no capacity to consent, noting that elders typically decide such matters in many traditional communities. Inyama described being given "kai kai (local alcohol)" before the procedure, being physically restrained, and feeling pain so severe she believes she fainted. She recalled the operation being performed by a specialist with "just one swipe."
Contrasting the trauma, Inyama asserted the experience "helped" her as a woman, granting her confidence and control in relationships, and called it "the best thing" her grandmother did for her. She added, "That's the best thing. I swear to God because if I say I no dey do, I no dey do… that is the power that I have as a woman."
Inyama also revealed that her daughter has not been circumcised because she was raised in the United Kingdom, where the practice is illegal, and emphasized that "the father has a say" in such decisions. Her positive framing of female genital mutilation runs counter to the stance of global health bodies and human‑rights groups, prompting vigorous online debate.
By portraying female circumcision as a personal advantage, Victoria Inyama challenges the prevailing condemnation of the practice and injects a contentious narrative into Nigeria's ongoing FGM discourse.
Her remarks surface at a time when health experts and activists repeatedly warn that the procedure inflicts irreversible harm, yet she cites the pain and "one swipe" as a formative, empowering event. This juxtaposition underscores the tension between entrenched cultural customs and modern human‑rights standards.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially women in rural areas where the rite persists, Inyama's endorsement could embolden those who view the tradition as beneficial, potentially complicating advocacy efforts aimed at eradication. Conversely, her admission that her own daughter is not circumcised may reinforce the growing acceptance of alternative parenting choices among diaspora families.
The episode reflects a broader pattern of public figures shaping contentious cultural debates, illustrating how celebrity testimony can both amplify and polarise discussions on practices like FGM.
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