Judia was only 13 years old when she ran away from home so that her parents wouldn’t sell her and force her into marriage to an unknown man. Soldiers raped Jane, and after she told her husband about it, he beat her with a stick. Memusi was traded by her father for cows when she was 11 years old, and the man she belonged to and was supposed to marry was 57 years old at the time.
All these women with unimaginably terrible fates found refuge in Umoja, a village in Kenya inhabited only by women, victims of violence, rape, arranged marriages, genital mutilation… In highly patriarchal African countries and societies, women do not have many rights; they are often treated as objects, and they are targets of violence and rape, after which they are rejected by society as if they were criminals, not victims. Fortunately, they have had somewhere to escape for the last thirty years – to Umoja!
Umoja, Kenya
The village of Umoja was founded in 1990 by 15 women who survived rape by British soldiers. It is located in the Samburu region of northern Kenya. At first glance, it looks like many other traditional villages in the country. Still, one key difference is that no men live in Umoja.
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After the pioneers established it, the village was eventually visited by all the victims of violence, child marriage, genital mutilation, rape, all the things that are, unfortunately, completely common in the Umoja area. In Sumbura, society is very patriarchal. Usually, about a dozen families live together; men gather at village meetings, while women do not have the right to speak their minds and participate in decisions. Parents sell girls for cattle, and if a woman is raped or beaten, she is even rejected by her own family.
The founder of Umoja
The founder of Umoja is Rebecca Lolosoli, who came up with the idea of a village with an all-female population while she was recovering in hospital after being beaten by a group of men. The first inhabitants were women from isolated Samburu villages in the Rift Valley. Still, today, women from much further afield come to Umoja. They often learn about the village through the stories of other women – some set out not knowing whether Umoja is a real place or just a legend. But once they arrive, they are greeted by an open and safe haven. All women are welcome in Umoja.
Umoja and Tourism
The village lives modestly, but the women lack nothing. Each member of the community actively contributes and earns their own money. Not far from the village is a camp where safari tourists stay, many of whom also visit Umoja. The women charge an entrance fee and offer handmade jewelry, which they make with great effort and skill. They decide on all essential issues together, gathering under the so-called “talking tree,” where they make consensus decisions that affect the entire village.
Rebecca Lolosoli, the founder of the village of Umoja, has received numerous threats from local men, but she has never wavered. Despite the pressure, she remained determined in her mission. Today, older members of the community are dedicated to educating the younger generation, teaching them about the importance of dignity, women’s rights, and the unacceptability of violence, rape, and child marriage.
Are there any children living in Umoja?
For a village without a single man, Umoja is surprisingly full of children. Some women arrive with children, fleeing abusive husbands. In contrast, others have their children born in the community’s safety.
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Although unmarried, many women still want to become mothers, so they occasionally meet with men from surrounding villages. Umoja is the only place in the region where having children without a husband is acceptable. For the women who live there, motherhood is one of life’s most essential and sacred roles.