In our part of the world today, there are various cultures and traditions that are performed for deceased loved ones and even those alive to signify the end of a life.
These cultures differ from tribe to tribe and the most popular traditions are widowhood rites. Sadly, most of these widowhood rites inflict some form of pain on the women who go through them.
Like others, in many parts of Africa, widows are taken through strange cultures for various reasons. Most of them claim that it is for cleansing purposes.
According to most African superstitious beliefs, the spirit of the dead man lingers around and could take any other member of his household away at any time
These purification rites are therefore performed to keep the widow and the rest of the family safe. Things are however a bit extreme in the Igbo culture.
You see one of the last stages of the Igbo culture’s widowhood rites is called Aja-Ani. It is essentially widow rape. A few days after her husband’s funeral, the widow is expected to go out at midnight, escorted by an Aja-Ani priest, or Nwa- nri (dwarf) to a place where he is supposed to perform a ritual for her.
The widow is expected to sleep with the priest or dwarf. Her consent is not needed. Since it’s part of tradition, the community and dead husband’s family usually insist on her being raped.
After this, some of the Umuada patrillineal sisters escort we to a stream where she washes before returning home. This is done to severe her links with the dead husband for it is believed that any man who tries to sleep with her before its performance would die.
Economically, these widows are left in need. In some of the major Nigerian cultures, widows aren’t allowed to inherit property. They are seen as properties and part of their husband’s estate.
after a man’s death, his property is usually forcefully acquired by his family, leaving the widow and her children to fend for themselves. (Source: Forklore worldwide)
