A Man Arrested In Malawi Who Was Paid To Meet 100 Young Girls as Part Of Traditional Rituals

Malawi police have arrested a HIV- infected man who was paid to have sex with more than 100 adolescent girls as a part of traditional rituals marking their passage to womanhood. Eric Aniva was arrested after giving a media interview confessing to have slept with girls for a fee of between four to seven dollars paid by each of their family. The little known local practice lasts for three days and is performed in Southern Malawi by men known as "hyenas" at the request of a girl;s parents after her first menstruation. The ritual is believed to train girls to become good wives and to protect them from diseases or misfotune that could fall on their families or village. In the BBC interview Aniva confessed to being infected with HIV and sleeping with at least 100 girls without using protection. He said some girls are 12 or 13 years old but he preferred them older. All these girls find pleasure in having me as their hyena and are tell proudly to other people that this man is a real man and knows how to please a woman. The sexual cleansing ritual is also performed on bereaved widows. Aniva who had two wives and is reported to be in 40s said hyena is selected by community and custom did not allow him to use condoms.