Human Rights of Widows: A Study of Widowhood Practices in a Nigerian Society

Abstract

The subject of widowhood practices remains one of the serious issues of ourtimes and one which has elicited mixed interpretations. Nigeria, being a multiethnicsociety, has different forms of widowhood practices that reflect itscultural diversity. This study focuses on widowhood practices in the southeasternpart of the country which is populated mostly by the Igbo-speakingethnic group, one of Nigeria’s largest groups. Marriage, as one of the basicinstitutions of any society, is laden with many challenges for most couples. Forthe woman, this is worsened by the loss of her husband. In Nigeria’s Igbosociety, when a woman loses her husband, her identity suddenly changes. Afterthe death of her husband, she no longer is viewed as a pure and completewoman. Widows in many Igbo communities are subjected to dehumanizingpractices that cause them to suffer physical as well as psychological trauma.Unfortunately, such cultural practices are perpetuated by the umuada (patrilinealdaughters) who call themselves preservers of the local culture and tradition. Inspite of the enactment of many laws for the protection of the rights of widows,widows in Igbo society still face social discrimination and deprivation and areoften denied their due inheritance. This paper analyses the phenomenon of Igbowidowhood practices with a view to understanding the cultural and social milieuin which such gender-oriented practices thrive.