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The Land of No Men: Inside Kenya's Women-Only Village

An inspiring story of brave women who lead a significant change in their life, and of some men who joined them.

Where the foothills of Mount Kenya merge into the desert, the people of Samburu have maintained a strict patriarchy for over 500 years in northern Kenya. That is, until 25 years ago, when Rebecca Lolosoli founded Umoja village as a safe haven for the region's women. Umoja, which means "unity" in Swahili, is quite literally a no man's land, and the matriarchal refuge is now home to the Samburu women who no longer want to suffer abuses, like genital mutilation and forced marriages, at the hands of men.

Throughout the years, it has also empowered other women in the districts surrounding Samburu to start their own men-excluding villages. Broadly visited Umoja and the villages it inspired to meet with the women who were fed up with living in a violent patriarchy.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MARGARIDA MARIA MADRUGA on June 27, 2020 at 10:40pm

This suffering imposed on women is a shame for our world history.
There should be a lot of support for places like this where crimes are not prevented.

Permalink Reply by Carmen Elsa Irarragorri-Wyland on June 30, 2020 at 2:10am