Turay and Blyden Clash: Dispute Regarding Sowei Status and Intellectual Property Attribution

Turay and Blyden Clash: Dispute Regarding Sowei Status and Intellectual Property Attribution

A public disagreement has emerged between Rugiatu Neneh Turay, founder of the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), and Dr. Sylvia Blyden concerning the credentials of Madam Kharday Zorokong and the unauthorized use of AIM’s organizational materials.

Ms. Turay contests the assertion that Madam Zorokong holds the status of a Sowei, questioning her affiliation with the National Sowei Council. Furthermore, Turay alleges that AIM’s intellectual property and project documentation were displayed at an international event in Italy without the organization’s prior consent or acknowledgement. She maintains that the "bloodless rite" initiative is her original concept and seeks to ensure proper attribution for this work.

Dr. Blyden has clarified that Madam Zorokong’s participation in official engagements in 2016 was conducted under the auspices of the Government of Sierra Leone following formal Cabinet approval. She asserts that Zorokong served as the National Secretary General of the National Sowei Council and was a recognized institutional representative.

Regarding the event in Italy, Dr. Blyden has distanced herself from the matter, stating she was not responsible for the selection or display of the materials in question.

The dispute underscores significant tensions surrounding institutional representation and the protection of intellectual contributions within the framework of women’s advocacy and cultural reform in Sierra Leone, specifically female genital mutilation.