Cultural tradition, explain the irony.

When Joesph Parmuat tells Resian and Taiyo of the fable of Olarinkoi, the girls are shocked to learn that the practice of circumcision was started by the Maa women after they are conquered by Olarinkoi. The fable is meant to be didactic rather than interpreted literally, but nevertheless it does point out an important feature of FGM.

In the Maa community, the operation of FGM is performed by the enkamuratani, a woman. Learning of women's role in continuing FGM subverts the reader's expectations and creates situational irony.