INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

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WOMAN BANISHED FROM KENYAN TRIBE TO SPEAK ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS
AT IUPUI

INDIANAPOLIS - A young Kenyan woman who was forced to undergo female circumcision and later banished from her tribe and will visit IUPUI April 25 through April 27 to discuss women's rights.

Tiito Mpetti will speak to education classes at IUPUI on Wednesday and will speak publicly at the Lilly Auditorium on the lower level of the IUPUI University Library, 755 W. Michigan St., on Friday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. She will also be talking with students at IPS School #69, The Orchard School, and Park Tudor School during the week.

IUPUI School of Education Professors Natalie and Charles Barman met 33-year-old Mpetti during a trip to Africa last fall. They helped arrange for her to visit the U.S. for the first time to spread her message of rights for women in Africa.

Mpetti is a member of the Maasai tribe of Kenya. According to Natalie Barman, the Maasai raise cattle and live nomadic lives. Female tribe members have no rights, but do most of the work. Women are forced to marry at the age of 13 and in preparation, undergo female circumcision.

After undergoing the circumcision, Mpetti left the tribe to get an education and attend college. She has now founded an organization that helps young girls who are banished from the tribe who want to go to school.

Rock musician Lenny Kravitz recently agreed to donate funds to the organization and plans to help Mpetti gain more exposure.

Mpetti also visited Miami, Fla. and Washington D.C.

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