Widowhood in Some Igbo Cultural Societies: A Neo Leprosy

Abstract

Harmful practices against widows in several communities in Igboland have continued to attract great attention from scholars and commentators. Worrisome enough is the relevance of some of these practices in the midst of Christianity and civilisation. The women in this category, no doubt, are no less human than any other person in the society yet, they are saddled with lots of unbearable and dehumanising conditions at the loss of their spouses. With the rising economic challenges of the society, the widows are expected to be as economically active and vibrant as men to meet up with the rising cost of living and to support the welfare of the immediate and extended family members. Sadly, these practices persist despite efforts by the religious bodies, government and non-governmental organisations to eliminate some of the harmful treatment against widows. Here, the researcher compares the treatment meted out to widows in some traditional Igbo societies to what victims of leprosy witnessed during the Mosaic era in biblical times. Using the theory of social exclusion as propounded by Walker, (1997), and narrative-textual case study approach, the paper argues that widows are largely subjected to both emotional and mental excruciating pains and excluded from participating in the social affairs of their communities because of superstitious and illogical beliefs founded on outmoded cultural practices and ethos. Leveraging on existing body of literature on widowhood practices in the traditional Igbo society, it is the position of this paper that socially isolating the women grieving the loss of their spouses hurt the women in diverse means and make them economically, psychologically and emotionally vulnerable, reduce their dignity and power to contribute to the welfare of their families after the traditional mourning period.