"In Rwanda, people know more about female orgasm than any other country in the world," says Swiss journalist Barbara Achermann. Rwandan sex educator, Vestine Dusabe, is on a mission to empower women with kunyaza - the art of female ejaculation.
Kunyaza is an African sex technique triggering female ejaculation and multiple orgasms in women during heterosexual encounters. The ancient technique from Rwanda began with a woman, was passed down by women and is mainly taught by women, known as ssengas (female sex educators).
Vestine Dusabe, 35, is a popular ssenga, radio host and sexologist from Rwanda. She hosts of one of the country's most popular radio programs, a talk show that revolves around the relationships and female pleasure.
Traveling around east and central Africa, Dusabe wants to revive Rwanda's sexual traditions and spread pleasure. During a candid interview with Barbara Achermann, the charismatic sex educator gives a fascinating insight into her life, culture and heritage.
Kunyaza is an African sex technique triggering female ejaculation and multiple orgasms in women during heterosexual encounters. The ancient technique from Rwanda began with a woman, was passed down by women and is mainly taught by women, known as ssengas (female sex educators).
Vestine Dusabe, 35, is a popular ssenga, radio host and sexologist from Rwanda. She hosts of one of the country's most popular radio programs, a talk show that revolves around the relationships and female pleasure.
Traveling around east and central Africa, Dusabe wants to revive Rwanda's sexual traditions and spread pleasure. During a candid interview with Barbara Achermann, the charismatic sex educator gives a fascinating insight into her life, culture and heritage.
African Kamasutra
Sex techniques and positions are passed on from generation to generation orally, a kind of African kamasutra. The erotic doctrine, which deals with female ejaculation, is called kunyaza; the name means "to urinate". The point is that the man elicits the "sacred water", to bring a woman to climax. The female ecstasy is a motif that appears again and again in poems and songs - even in Rwandan mythology.
According to legend, kunyaza originates from a queen whose orgasmic flow was so copious that it formed Lake Kiku. Intrigued by the legend, Vestine Dusabe sets out to keep the tradition alive and change attitudes towards sex and female pleasure in her native country.
Kunyaza is largely unknown in Europe. A few studies and documentaries have dealt with the female-friendly love tradition.
Europe's Obsession with FGM
"Your (western) media are obsessed with the bloody clitoris circumcisions in Somalia or in Ethiopia," says Vestine. "You cling to the image of the primitive African who oppresses his wife. You could still learn a lot from us!"
In fact, in Rwanda, nobody would think of taking a rusty razor blade to the most vulnerable spot on a girl's genitalia. Nor in about thirty other African countries where female genital mutilation (FGM), according to the Unicef children's charity, is rare.
Vestine shudders when she thinks of cutting off the clitoris and sewing the labia together. However, the educated sexologist is annoyed that the reports about FGM form the dominant narrative about African sexuality.
"Africa," she says, "being bigger than Europe, the US, China, Japan and India together, yet the continent is treated as a single sick country, of which there is only violence and misery to report."
Sex techniques and positions are passed on from generation to generation orally, a kind of African kamasutra. The erotic doctrine, which deals with female ejaculation, is called kunyaza; the name means "to urinate". The point is that the man elicits the "sacred water", to bring a woman to climax. The female ecstasy is a motif that appears again and again in poems and songs - even in Rwandan mythology.
According to legend, kunyaza originates from a queen whose orgasmic flow was so copious that it formed Lake Kiku. Intrigued by the legend, Vestine Dusabe sets out to keep the tradition alive and change attitudes towards sex and female pleasure in her native country.
Kunyaza is largely unknown in Europe. A few studies and documentaries have dealt with the female-friendly love tradition.
Europe's Obsession with FGM
"Your (western) media are obsessed with the bloody clitoris circumcisions in Somalia or in Ethiopia," says Vestine. "You cling to the image of the primitive African who oppresses his wife. You could still learn a lot from us!"
In fact, in Rwanda, nobody would think of taking a rusty razor blade to the most vulnerable spot on a girl's genitalia. Nor in about thirty other African countries where female genital mutilation (FGM), according to the Unicef children's charity, is rare.
Vestine shudders when she thinks of cutting off the clitoris and sewing the labia together. However, the educated sexologist is annoyed that the reports about FGM form the dominant narrative about African sexuality.
"Africa," she says, "being bigger than Europe, the US, China, Japan and India together, yet the continent is treated as a single sick country, of which there is only violence and misery to report."
The Eiffel Tower
"I'll solve the mystery now," Dusabe says she likes to use metaphors on the radio, locating the key to the "holy water" (female ejaculation) she addressed at the beginning of the program "Eiffel Tower between the legs of the woman."
But she can also name things by name: during kunyaza, she explains, the man takes the penis in his hand and taps rhythmically on the clitoris and the labia minora or moves in a circular motion above it. Dusabe demonstrates this by taking a coke bottle between her thumbs and forefinger, and shaking it lightly.
In the local Rwandan language of Kinyarwanda there is a fixed turn for the smacking noise which arises at the same time: "the dog drinking water."
Kunyaza is ancient. No one knows exactly how old, because it has always been passed down orally, but it is believed that this eroticism goes back to the 16th century.
European Sexual Latecomers
"In comparison with the Rwandans, we, Swiss, are sexual latecomers. Presumably the Rwandans would have laughed at Sigmund Freud had they been there when he fantasized the vaginal orgasm to the only true climax and dismissed the clitoral orgasm as "immature". Or even better, they would have told him that the monotone in-out did not match Better yet, they would have told him that the monotone in-out has nothing to do with savvy love-art - and there spent a lot of uninspired love nights with the western women," said Barbara Achermann.
"I'll solve the mystery now," Dusabe says she likes to use metaphors on the radio, locating the key to the "holy water" (female ejaculation) she addressed at the beginning of the program "Eiffel Tower between the legs of the woman."
But she can also name things by name: during kunyaza, she explains, the man takes the penis in his hand and taps rhythmically on the clitoris and the labia minora or moves in a circular motion above it. Dusabe demonstrates this by taking a coke bottle between her thumbs and forefinger, and shaking it lightly.
In the local Rwandan language of Kinyarwanda there is a fixed turn for the smacking noise which arises at the same time: "the dog drinking water."
Kunyaza is ancient. No one knows exactly how old, because it has always been passed down orally, but it is believed that this eroticism goes back to the 16th century.
European Sexual Latecomers
"In comparison with the Rwandans, we, Swiss, are sexual latecomers. Presumably the Rwandans would have laughed at Sigmund Freud had they been there when he fantasized the vaginal orgasm to the only true climax and dismissed the clitoral orgasm as "immature". Or even better, they would have told him that the monotone in-out did not match Better yet, they would have told him that the monotone in-out has nothing to do with savvy love-art - and there spent a lot of uninspired love nights with the western women," said Barbara Achermann.
Lost Traditions
"It seemed to me that our traditions had died in the genocide. Many did not remember what kunyaza was. Even Gukuna was gone." said Vestine.
She makes a movement with her hands as if she were milking a cow. Peter mumbles something about the toilet and gets up. Gukuna, explains Vestine, signifies the extension of the labia minora.
Until a hundred years ago, women in Rwanda hardly wore clothes. For reasons of hygiene, they stretched their labia long to form a sort of curtain for the vagina that protected them from dust and bacteria. So they could sit naked on the ground without catching an inflammation.
Another reason was childbirth. The tissue is pre-stretched by the massages and thus breaks less during childbirth. Under the pretext that they were looking for brushwood in the undergrowth, the women met in clay groups. They collected herbs that they stamped in a mortar and mixed with butter, then they rolled out their bast mats, stroked the ointment between his legs and, Vestine makes again the milking motion, pulled each other's labia long. "Useful, but not only that. You can imagine that it can be fun."
Collective masturbation appealed to women, but the Catholic Church that spread to Rwanda at the beginning of the 20th century was appalled. The European missionaries banned gukuna, but it survived.
"It seemed to me that our traditions had died in the genocide. Many did not remember what kunyaza was. Even Gukuna was gone." said Vestine.
She makes a movement with her hands as if she were milking a cow. Peter mumbles something about the toilet and gets up. Gukuna, explains Vestine, signifies the extension of the labia minora.
Until a hundred years ago, women in Rwanda hardly wore clothes. For reasons of hygiene, they stretched their labia long to form a sort of curtain for the vagina that protected them from dust and bacteria. So they could sit naked on the ground without catching an inflammation.
Another reason was childbirth. The tissue is pre-stretched by the massages and thus breaks less during childbirth. Under the pretext that they were looking for brushwood in the undergrowth, the women met in clay groups. They collected herbs that they stamped in a mortar and mixed with butter, then they rolled out their bast mats, stroked the ointment between his legs and, Vestine makes again the milking motion, pulled each other's labia long. "Useful, but not only that. You can imagine that it can be fun."
Collective masturbation appealed to women, but the Catholic Church that spread to Rwanda at the beginning of the 20th century was appalled. The European missionaries banned gukuna, but it survived.
Relationship Counsellor
Vestine visits small communities to teach them about Rwanda's erotic traditions. During one visit, Vestine turns to a man with yellow teeth: "Are you married?" he nods. "Then please tell us how you sleep with your wife." He looks at her from the side, "What can I say? I'm going slowly. "Some laugh. "That's not bad!" Says Vestine. Then she asks everyone to send a text message to her sweetheart. Something like, "Sweetheart I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight." The man with the yellow teeth hesitates. "She'll think I'm obsessed with the devil."
Vestine is more than a gym teacher, she knows that sex is not just technique and position, it's also about relationship, empathy, trust and caring for each other for years to come. She speaks without sounding moral, telling anecdotes from her own marriage.
Vestine visits small communities to teach them about Rwanda's erotic traditions. During one visit, Vestine turns to a man with yellow teeth: "Are you married?" he nods. "Then please tell us how you sleep with your wife." He looks at her from the side, "What can I say? I'm going slowly. "Some laugh. "That's not bad!" Says Vestine. Then she asks everyone to send a text message to her sweetheart. Something like, "Sweetheart I'm looking forward to seeing you tonight." The man with the yellow teeth hesitates. "She'll think I'm obsessed with the devil."
Vestine is more than a gym teacher, she knows that sex is not just technique and position, it's also about relationship, empathy, trust and caring for each other for years to come. She speaks without sounding moral, telling anecdotes from her own marriage.
Sex is The Most Egalitarian Thing in the World
And, "How is kissing?" Vestine knew that question would come. It always comes. While some of the men present are savvy lovers, others do not even know how to kiss with the tongue.
"You wash your face first and brush your teeth. Then you practice with a candy, playing hide-and-seek with it and sucking on the lower lips. But not too tight! "Vestine makes a face as if she had bitten her lip. The man with the yellow teeth laughs tears. "Rest, please!" Shouts an elderly gentleman with a carefully ironed shirt and swinging his cane as if he had a firm role in this comedy. He thanked Vestine for the clever lecture that he was attached to the ignorance of today's youth.
Vestine sends the men out. She wants to talk to the women alone: "Tonight you are up!" No sooner have the men left than the shyness of the women has disappeared. Vestine now also puts them under the obligation that in kunyaza the women should not only skim off, they also have to do something:
"Do not lie there like a corpse, join in, moan, cry when you feel like it." She shows them how she circles with her hips during sex, "makes a zero, an eight or just your favourite number."
And, "How is kissing?" Vestine knew that question would come. It always comes. While some of the men present are savvy lovers, others do not even know how to kiss with the tongue.
"You wash your face first and brush your teeth. Then you practice with a candy, playing hide-and-seek with it and sucking on the lower lips. But not too tight! "Vestine makes a face as if she had bitten her lip. The man with the yellow teeth laughs tears. "Rest, please!" Shouts an elderly gentleman with a carefully ironed shirt and swinging his cane as if he had a firm role in this comedy. He thanked Vestine for the clever lecture that he was attached to the ignorance of today's youth.
Vestine sends the men out. She wants to talk to the women alone: "Tonight you are up!" No sooner have the men left than the shyness of the women has disappeared. Vestine now also puts them under the obligation that in kunyaza the women should not only skim off, they also have to do something:
"Do not lie there like a corpse, join in, moan, cry when you feel like it." She shows them how she circles with her hips during sex, "makes a zero, an eight or just your favourite number."
Kunyaza works like the flu, you're pestering each other: when she's feverish, so does he too. And in the end, you come together. Happy ending for the people out here in Matimba.
Their lives are hard, they toil, they often eat only two meals a day, they have to do without much. But an orgasm is free, he is there for everyone. "You can have at least as much fun as the bigwigs in Kigali," says Vestine.
She's right, I think, sex is probably the most egalitarian thing in the world. Especially in this equal Rwandan variant, Barbara Achermann says.
Source: Real21
Their lives are hard, they toil, they often eat only two meals a day, they have to do without much. But an orgasm is free, he is there for everyone. "You can have at least as much fun as the bigwigs in Kigali," says Vestine.
She's right, I think, sex is probably the most egalitarian thing in the world. Especially in this equal Rwandan variant, Barbara Achermann says.
Source: Real21
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