Nollywood actress Victoria Inyama has opened up about her experience with female circumcision, describing it as a defining part of her upbringing despite acknowledging the trauma associated with the practice.
Inyama spoke during an Instagram Live session with media personality Daddy Freeze, where she recounted undergoing the procedure at a young age while living with her grandmother in a village.
The actress said she was circumcised at about five or six years old, explaining that she was given a local drink before the procedure was carried out.
According to her, although the experience was painful, she believes it has influenced her personal discipline, particularly in managing sexual urges.
“FGM is evil, but that is what is helping me. That is the best thing they did for me,” she said during the session, adding that it has contributed to her ability to maintain personal boundaries.
She also noted that the experience left her with lasting memories of the process, which she described as distressing.
When asked why she did not subject her own children to the practice, Inyama said such a decision was not solely hers to make, noting that her children are British and that she would have deferred to their father on the matter.
Female genital mutilation remains widely condemned by global health bodies and human rights organisations due to its long-term physical and psychological effects, with campaigns ongoing to end the practice across various communities.
