Kunyaza workshop hosted by Watch Africa at Chapter in Cardiff. Copyright: Adam Lewis
On 17 August, I was invited by Watch Africa to give a sex workshop exploring the sexual practice of kunyaza (squirting technique), African/Muslim erotology and how intimacy plays an important part in traditional African societies.
The workshop was delivered prior to the film screening of Sacred Water at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, Wales. People of various ethnicities and genders attended the event which was supported by Film Hub Wales and BFI Film Audience Network.
The purpose of the workshop was to raise awareness of the kunyaza tradition, and highlight the valuable contributions of African sex educators to female pleasure and gushing orgasms.
The workshop was delivered prior to the film screening of Sacred Water at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, Wales. People of various ethnicities and genders attended the event which was supported by Film Hub Wales and BFI Film Audience Network.
The purpose of the workshop was to raise awareness of the kunyaza tradition, and highlight the valuable contributions of African sex educators to female pleasure and gushing orgasms.
Sex educator and author Habeeb Akande at Kunyaza workshop. Copyright: Adam Lewis
Female Pleasure in African Cultures
From the Kama Sutra of Ancient India, to the Kayan Mata ancient tradition in Nigeria, to the erotology tradition in the Arab/Muslim world, many cultures outside of the western world celebrated female pleasure and female autonomy.
According to reports, 80% of Rwandan women experience orgasm with their male partners, and female ejaculation is sacred in some east African cultures. Women in Rwanda and Uganda are encouraged to seek sexual gratification with their husbands and many learn about sexual pleasure from a young age. Sex and female pleasure became taboo in Africa after Christian missionaries imposed their prudish views on African peoples during colonisation.
The notion that female ejaculation is a myth or the clitoral orgasm is inferior came from the western world. Sex research which shows that only 25% - 30% of women regularly orgasm from intercourse are based on the findings of westerners. The idea that the West 'liberated' the rest of the world about female sexuality with the 'sexual liberation movement' of the 1960s is inaccurate. Many pre-modern cultures outside of the western world acknowledged women's right to sexual pleasure.
"Did you know that in the Western world, it wasn’t until 1998 that the clitoris was discovered in it’s full structure? In parts of Africa, people have known the clitoris as a source of joy and key to harmonious relationships for centuries. We have all heard about FGM, but let’s take this opportunity to hear about Kunyaza and celebrate a more positive side of African sexual practices." - Watch Africa
In some traditional African cultures, the female orgasm was honoured and women are taught various sexual practices to enhance sexual pleasure for their husbands and themselves. In Rwanda, girls and women are taught about these traditional practices by female sex educators, known as ssengas.
Sex education in east Africa is taught by both male and female sex educators. Male sex educators known as Kojjas (uncles) give sexual instructions to young men. Whilst female sex educators known as ssengas (aunties) give sexual instructions to young women. In Rwanda, men are taught about the female anatomy and how to make a woman experience gushing orgasms.
In east Africa, female ejaculation is an expected state of affairs when making love.
From the Kama Sutra of Ancient India, to the Kayan Mata ancient tradition in Nigeria, to the erotology tradition in the Arab/Muslim world, many cultures outside of the western world celebrated female pleasure and female autonomy.
According to reports, 80% of Rwandan women experience orgasm with their male partners, and female ejaculation is sacred in some east African cultures. Women in Rwanda and Uganda are encouraged to seek sexual gratification with their husbands and many learn about sexual pleasure from a young age. Sex and female pleasure became taboo in Africa after Christian missionaries imposed their prudish views on African peoples during colonisation.
The notion that female ejaculation is a myth or the clitoral orgasm is inferior came from the western world. Sex research which shows that only 25% - 30% of women regularly orgasm from intercourse are based on the findings of westerners. The idea that the West 'liberated' the rest of the world about female sexuality with the 'sexual liberation movement' of the 1960s is inaccurate. Many pre-modern cultures outside of the western world acknowledged women's right to sexual pleasure.
"Did you know that in the Western world, it wasn’t until 1998 that the clitoris was discovered in it’s full structure? In parts of Africa, people have known the clitoris as a source of joy and key to harmonious relationships for centuries. We have all heard about FGM, but let’s take this opportunity to hear about Kunyaza and celebrate a more positive side of African sexual practices." - Watch Africa
In some traditional African cultures, the female orgasm was honoured and women are taught various sexual practices to enhance sexual pleasure for their husbands and themselves. In Rwanda, girls and women are taught about these traditional practices by female sex educators, known as ssengas.
Sex education in east Africa is taught by both male and female sex educators. Male sex educators known as Kojjas (uncles) give sexual instructions to young men. Whilst female sex educators known as ssengas (aunties) give sexual instructions to young women. In Rwanda, men are taught about the female anatomy and how to make a woman experience gushing orgasms.
In east Africa, female ejaculation is an expected state of affairs when making love.
A Taste of Honey and Kunyaza books by Habeeb Akande at Kunyaza workshop. Copyright: Habeeb Akande
What is Kunyaza?
Kunyaza is a sexual practice to make a woman squirt with a male partner. Originally from Rwanda, kunyaza has been practised for hundreds of years by heterosexual couples in east-central Africa.
The term kunyaza is derived from the word kunyara, meaning ‘to urinate’ but also signifying female ejaculation achieved by the sexual practice. According to research, 80% of women in Rwanda experience ejaculation due to the kunyaza practice.
In Uganda, kunyaza is referred to as Kachabali or “Western Jazz” (due to its prevalence in western regions). The sexual technique is also practised in Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe where it is known as Kachabali, Katerero and Kutunda respectively.
The kunyaza practice was developed as a method of foreplay to increase sexual arousal and as a means to achieve female orgasm. According to South African sex educator, Lerato Charlotte Letsoso, "Kunyaza is a recommended heterosexual practice for women to achieve sexual pleasure without penetration." Letsoso adds, "Kunyaza is perhaps the easiest and sure/effective technique to achieve female ejaculation but it requires commitment and time especially from the man."
Sex educators hope that kunyaza would keep women sexually satisfied so that they would remain faithful to their husbands and not look outside of marriage for sexual gratification. In traditional African cultures, sexual satisfaction is just as important as love and financial stability for a happy marriage.
Kunyaza is a sexual practice to make a woman squirt with a male partner. Originally from Rwanda, kunyaza has been practised for hundreds of years by heterosexual couples in east-central Africa.
The term kunyaza is derived from the word kunyara, meaning ‘to urinate’ but also signifying female ejaculation achieved by the sexual practice. According to research, 80% of women in Rwanda experience ejaculation due to the kunyaza practice.
In Uganda, kunyaza is referred to as Kachabali or “Western Jazz” (due to its prevalence in western regions). The sexual technique is also practised in Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe where it is known as Kachabali, Katerero and Kutunda respectively.
The kunyaza practice was developed as a method of foreplay to increase sexual arousal and as a means to achieve female orgasm. According to South African sex educator, Lerato Charlotte Letsoso, "Kunyaza is a recommended heterosexual practice for women to achieve sexual pleasure without penetration." Letsoso adds, "Kunyaza is perhaps the easiest and sure/effective technique to achieve female ejaculation but it requires commitment and time especially from the man."
Sex educators hope that kunyaza would keep women sexually satisfied so that they would remain faithful to their husbands and not look outside of marriage for sexual gratification. In traditional African cultures, sexual satisfaction is just as important as love and financial stability for a happy marriage.
Sex educator Habeeb Akande with the Wondrous Vulva Puppet. Copyright: Adam Lewis
How to Make A Woman Squirt with Kunyaza?
During kunyaza, the man rhythmically and firmly taps the clitoral glans, labia minora and vaginal opening with his erect penis.
As the woman becomes more aroused and the vulva starts to swell, the man should take hold of his erect penis. Then he should proceed to tap and rub the penis head from the top to the bottom of the vulva, then left to right, and then in a zigzagging or circular motion – always returning to tap the clitoral glans after each motion. The man should continue stimulation until the woman is close to orgasm. Then, he should stimulate the area on and around the clitoris using long, firm strokes to trigger a gushing orgasm.
Another form of kunyaza involves non-penetrative and penetrative stimulation. In this case, the man stimulates the clitoris and labia of the woman by tapping and also rubbing with his penis head and then alternating shallow thrusts (gucuga) with deep thrusts (gucumita) pushing at the cervix while maintaining circular and/or zigzag movements between vagina walls in a "screwing" fashion during penetration. The variation of shallow and deep thrusts with the stimulation of the vulva with the penis should increase pleasure until the woman is ready to gush with delight. In addition, the man could use his fingers in the 'come hither' motion to stimulate the woman's G-spot to intensify pleasure. The combination of G-Spot and clitoral stimulation is likely to result in a gushing orgasm.
Kunyaza can be performed in a number of sex positions. The woman sitting on the man's lap, or the woman sprawled on her back with the man kneeling between her legs is said to be the most effective kunyaza positions to induce a wet orgasm. For kunyaza, technique is more important than penis size. To truly pleasure a woman with kunyaza penetration, stroke game matters!
To master kunyaza, the man must be patient, self-disciplined and attentive to his lady's needs. The woman should be relaxed and comfortable to enjoy the sensation kunyaza brings. Women are encouraged to not hold back when she feels the urge to expel fluid from her loins. Couples are also encouraged to use lubricants during kunyaza to enhance pleasure.
During kunyaza, the man rhythmically and firmly taps the clitoral glans, labia minora and vaginal opening with his erect penis.
As the woman becomes more aroused and the vulva starts to swell, the man should take hold of his erect penis. Then he should proceed to tap and rub the penis head from the top to the bottom of the vulva, then left to right, and then in a zigzagging or circular motion – always returning to tap the clitoral glans after each motion. The man should continue stimulation until the woman is close to orgasm. Then, he should stimulate the area on and around the clitoris using long, firm strokes to trigger a gushing orgasm.
Another form of kunyaza involves non-penetrative and penetrative stimulation. In this case, the man stimulates the clitoris and labia of the woman by tapping and also rubbing with his penis head and then alternating shallow thrusts (gucuga) with deep thrusts (gucumita) pushing at the cervix while maintaining circular and/or zigzag movements between vagina walls in a "screwing" fashion during penetration. The variation of shallow and deep thrusts with the stimulation of the vulva with the penis should increase pleasure until the woman is ready to gush with delight. In addition, the man could use his fingers in the 'come hither' motion to stimulate the woman's G-spot to intensify pleasure. The combination of G-Spot and clitoral stimulation is likely to result in a gushing orgasm.
Kunyaza can be performed in a number of sex positions. The woman sitting on the man's lap, or the woman sprawled on her back with the man kneeling between her legs is said to be the most effective kunyaza positions to induce a wet orgasm. For kunyaza, technique is more important than penis size. To truly pleasure a woman with kunyaza penetration, stroke game matters!
To master kunyaza, the man must be patient, self-disciplined and attentive to his lady's needs. The woman should be relaxed and comfortable to enjoy the sensation kunyaza brings. Women are encouraged to not hold back when she feels the urge to expel fluid from her loins. Couples are also encouraged to use lubricants during kunyaza to enhance pleasure.
Audience members with the Wondrous Vulva Puppet at Kunyaza workshop. Copyright: Adam Lewis
Workshop Discussion Points
The topics discussed during the workshop were as follows;
The topics discussed during the workshop were as follows;
- The kunyaza tradition in Africa prioritises female pleasure
- Differences between erotology and sexology
- Christian missionaries demonised female pleasure and African practices
- Islam and Hinduism have a positive attitude towards female pleasure
- Western sex research/education is culturally biased
- Importance of respecting indigenous African cultures and knowledge
- African controlling their own narrative about sex and sexuality
- Why the WHO classified labia pulling as female genital modification
- Why labiaplasty is not considered FGM in the West
- Locating the G-Spot and the K-Spot with the Wondrous Vulva Puppet
- Understand the clitoris with a 3-D clitoris model
- Female ejaculation and squirting studies
- Kunyaza is taught worldwide by sex educators in America and Brazil.
- African sexual practices (waistbeads, vaginal steaming, and aphrodisiacs)
- Loving your body makes you a better lover
- Women do not need orgasms to experience good sex. ,
Sex educator Habeeb Akande at Kunyaza (squirting) workshop hosted by Watch Africa. Copyright: Adam Lewis
Audience Reaction
Below are some comments and reactions from audience members of the Kunyaza workshop;
Below are some comments and reactions from audience members of the Kunyaza workshop;
- "Excellent discussion celebrating Rwandan culture."
- "Illuminating workshop with Habeeb Akande...We've learned loads"
- "A refreshing look at Rwandan culture that allows women to take control of their pleasure."
- "Fantastic to hear from author Habeeb Akande and Watch Africa about the practice of kunyaza and the female orgasm."
- "Women from the Buganda tribe in Uganda enjoy satisfying their husbands"
- "We, African women, do not need Westerners to validate our culture"
- "I had no idea that 8th August is International Female Orgasm Day!"
- "We learn kunyaza from our elders in Africa."
- "FGM is not practised in every African country"
- "I would have brought my sons to this workshop! It's important."
- "Men need to know about kunyaza and satisfying women too."
Audience members with Habeeb Akande at Kunyaza workshop hosted by Watch Africa at Chapter in Cardiff. Copyright: Habeeb Akande
Kunyaza Forever!
Whilst western psychologists in the 19th and 20th centuries considered clitoral orgasms as infantile and immature, African sex educators recognised the importance of clitoral stimulation to induce an orgasm hundreds of years before the West.
Rwanda's kunyaza tradition is an example of how much Westerners can learn from indigenous African cultures about women's pleasure and the elusive female orgasm!
To learn more about traditional Rwandan culture and the kunyaza practice , you can read my book Kunyaza: The Secret to Female Pleasure, watch the documentary film Sacred Water, or attend a kunyaza workshop!
Remember #KunyazaForever! #StrokeGameMatters!
Habeeb Akande, sex educator and author of Kunyaza: The Secret to Female Pleasure.
Whilst western psychologists in the 19th and 20th centuries considered clitoral orgasms as infantile and immature, African sex educators recognised the importance of clitoral stimulation to induce an orgasm hundreds of years before the West.
Rwanda's kunyaza tradition is an example of how much Westerners can learn from indigenous African cultures about women's pleasure and the elusive female orgasm!
To learn more about traditional Rwandan culture and the kunyaza practice , you can read my book Kunyaza: The Secret to Female Pleasure, watch the documentary film Sacred Water, or attend a kunyaza workshop!
Remember #KunyazaForever! #StrokeGameMatters!
Habeeb Akande, sex educator and author of Kunyaza: The Secret to Female Pleasure.
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