Biodun Stephen opens up on emotional childhood trauma

Nigerian filmmaker and actress Biodun Stephen has opened up about a painful childhood experience, revealing that she underwent female circumcision at the age of six.

Stephen shared the revelation during an interview with Diaryofanaijagirl, describing the incident as deeply traumatic and one she still remembers vividly decades later.

According to the Nollywood producer, the procedure was carried out by her grandmother as part of a longstanding family tradition. She added that her mother had also gone through the same practice.

Recounting the event, Stephen said she was taken from home under the pretense of an outing and made to feel relaxed before the procedure began. She explained that she was asked to bathe and later instructed to lie on a mat placed on the floor.

“I remember it vividly — the pain. As I’m talking to you, I can still see the picture. I was six. I didn’t know what was happening. I loved my grandma. She told me we were going somewhere. They let me play and eat. Then I saw a woman putting a mat and a bowl on the floor. They asked me to lie down. The pain was searing,” she said.

The actress noted that the memory has remained clear in her mind over the years. She also stated that the long-term effects of female circumcision vary depending on the extent of the procedure, including possible impact on sexual experience.

In another part of the interview, Stephen spoke about her views on relationships, saying infidelity is not necessarily a deal-breaker for her but should carry consequences.

“Cheating is not a deal-breaker for me, and I also believe the simplest punishment to give any man who has cheated on you is to let him go,” she added.