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| Source: theleaderassumpta.com |
(Kinda Delphine)--Few years ago, I was a radio presenter for a women
rights program called ‘Every Woman’ (2006) Even though my
co-presenter and I were still not very clear what women’s rights is, we somehow
managed to hold inspiring discussions on air about gender inequality. On one
edition, we got a call from a listener who was sharing her experiences about
widowhood rights. She told us of the great love that she and her husband had
once shared and how all of that was rub to the mud and she was abused and
dehumanized by the traditional rites that her husband’s family put her through
during the funeral.
You may not have heard it, but there is something called
Widowhood rites in most parts of Africa and maybe in other parts of the world
too. These are specific things that the wife of a deceased man has to fulfill
but there is no such thing as widower rites. At least I have not heard of
it!
When a WIFE dies, society sympathizes with the widower.
When a HUSBAND dies, the community starts questioning the circumstances
surrounding the death of the man and examine ‘invincible’ motives that his wife
may have to kill him. Without any proof or trial, widows are accused of killing
their husbands.
