The study generally examined three aspects of the wellbeing. Positive and negative cultural practices in ghana yen. Marriage in ghana see all the rites and requirements december 29, 2015 by chinwe esther 2 comments traditional marriage in ghana, the rites and requirements, marriages being a world wide affair in which the blacks and the whites embark on interchangeably not minding the distances, languages, and cultural differences provided the love is there. Widowhood in african society and its effects on womens health. This is to say that literature available on widowhood practices. The plight of widowhood in africa the times group malawi. Pdf outmoded cultural practices and its effects on. She is the first lady of the republic of ghana and wife of president nana addo dankwa akufoaddo, 5th president of the 4th republic of ghana ayi kwei armah, ghanaian writer b. About 40 selected youth from three districts in the upper east region have been given community journalism training by media practitioners to identify and report on dehumanising widowhood rites.
The issue of widowhood rites, which has been described as one of the most dehumanizing, uncivilized and negative cultural practices in the world, due to its. The 1989 amendment to the penal code criminalises the acts of any person who compels a widow to undergo any custom or practice that is cruel, immoral, or grossly indecent. While the practice of culture in some communities, villages are very friendly. The study found that some of the practices of widowhood rituals in the area. Pdf ghanaian akan womens experiences of widowhood and. The effects of widowhood on physical and mental health. Wicked widowhood practices that must be abolished in. Widowhood rite is a custom that is performed on a woman upon the death of her husband. Widowhood practices of the gbi northern ewe of ghana a.
The practice is held very strongly by the krobos and it is ensured that every female in the tribe undergoes the rite. Ghanaian widows are routinely accused by the community of having caused the death of their husband, or even of literally. There are 823,562 widowed persons in ghana out of a population of about 24,000,000. The study is an attempt to describe the practice of widowhood rites in the ga traditional area of ghana and find out the reasons that underlie the practice. The issue of widowhood rites, which has been described as one of the most dehumanising, uncivilised and negative cultural practices in the world, due to its associated violation of the rights of women, is still rife in some parts of the three northern regions of ghana. The present study was conducted to find out the effect of widowhood rites on the psychosocial wellbeing of widows in nadowli district of the upper west region ghana. Ghana, so as to ascertain whether these rites and practices are only targeted at. Although this situ ation exists in almost all parts, it is particularly prevalen t in the rural communities. It is a case study of somanya, the district capital of yilo krobo. This paper, therefore, investigated widowhood practices among the gbiewes of northern volta region in ghana, so as to ascertain whether these rites and practices are only targeted at dehumanising and oppressing african womanhood, or in spite of its criminalisation in. Most of the materials gathered on widowhood practices in african societies can be said to be raw and unprocessed. It also sought to find out why widowhood rites persist in spite of ghana.
Among the krobo people, this rite is known as yayi fimi. Agonies of widows hit by harsh nigerian traditions. Evenson university of north carolina aaron aragaki fred hutchinson cancer research center sylvia wassertheilsmoller albert einstein college of medicine charles p. Rather, those practices have been regarded as part of the customs and traditions of the people. Eighty six percent 86% of these are women, which means there are over 700,000 widows statsghana. Widowhood practices and impacts on women in subsaharan. However, ghana is still living with many forms of outmoded traditional practices like some aspects of widowhood rights in some communities.
Ghanaian akan womens experiences of widowhood and property. This paper, therefore, investigated widowhood practices among the gbiewes of northern volta region in ghana, so as to ascertain whether these rites and practices are only targeted at dehumanising and oppressing african womanhood, or in spite of its criminalisation in recent times, it still has certain embedded cultural values that ensure the. The ceremony, a rite of passage called dipo among the krobos, a tribe in the eastern region of ghana, is a very prominent event which has been carried out for years. This situation has created a marked difference and a class society where widows are found at the base of the ladder. Widowhood practices of the gbi northern ewe of ghana african. Women who undergo such rites are subjected to mental, physical, and emotional torture, accused of killing their husbands, and most of the times. The observance of widowhood rites has been with the akans for a very long. Ghanaian youth challenged to stand against widowhood rites. Widowhood rituals and widow inheritance in the balikumbat.
And this is especially true for women, who are not always encouraged to develop financial and emotional independence when their spouses are alive. Akinbi, joseph olukayode visiting senior lecturer, department of history and international studies. This article discusses the plight and suffering of widows in terms of their social, economic, psychological and human rights violations in three west african societies. The rite of mourning the demise of a husband in nigeria has for a very long time been taken to the extreme by the relatives of the dearly departed either because they have plans of punishing the. The impact of widowhood rite on the ghanaian woman in the new. Assistant professor lucky eboh and thomas boye from the university of makerere in ghana in an article titled widowhood in african society and its effects on womens health tackled at length the oppressive and humiliating practices women face as a result of the death of their husbands. Effects of widowhood rites on the psychosocial wellbeing of women in nadowli district upperwest regionghana.
Mary imelda obianuju nwogu phd law lecturer, nnamdi azikiwe university, pmb 5025, awka, anambra state nigeria. These include violations of their property rights, coercive subjection to the observance of customarily genderedthe observance of customarily genderedconstructed ritesritesofofpassage widowhood rites passage widowhood rites kunadiekunadie. Cohabitation, marriage and remarriage patterns in africa. Women who undergo such rites are subjected to mental, physical, and emotional torture, accused of killing their husbands, and most of the times stripped naked and humiliated at the market square. In ghana only a small section of ethnic groups usually found in the northern parts of the country have initiation rites for men and where they occur they are done in secret and not given as much. The effects of widowhood on physical and mental health, health behaviors, and health outcomes. Some articles and publications describe widowhood practices in ghana and other countries in west africa sossou, 2002. The legal framework in ghana clearly forbids traditional practices that do not. The practice of widowhood rites according to some ghanaian traditions is linked to the. Widowhood rites still rife in northern regions modern ghana. The article describes the situation of the widows as silent victims who suffer cruel and dehumanising cultural and ritual practices as a mourning process for their dead spouses. The article widowhood in african society and its effects on womans health is focused on the practices that are oppressive and humiliating to women as a result of the death of the husband.
Some of these rites include cruel and degrading treatment. During widowhood rites, women are vulnerable to abuse especially by members of their husbands families, who typically care for them during the rites. Africa is home to innumerable tribes, ethnic and social groups, some representing very large populations consisting of millions of people, others are smaller groups of. The womens health initiative sara wilcox university of south carolina kelly r. The pilot survey used a two pronged approach, namely a questionnaire which was administered in seven sample districts, and focus group discussions on specific cultural practices in the selected districts. Pdf effects of widowhood rites on the psychosocial wellbeing. The absence of a diachronic research on the issue of widowhood makes the practice very difficult to assess. It is noteworthy that ghana is the only country in the world that has attempted to eliminate degrading and harmful widows mourning rites by legislation. It is performed on the assumption that the death man does not end the marital relationship with his wife and so this rite is performed in order to end the relationship. Asked in movie genres what is the duration of the widowhood of karolina zasler. Widowhood practices of the gbi northern ewe of ghana. Pdf effects of widowhood rites on the psychosocial well. Widowhood rites performed by the akan people, particularly for chiefs and subchiefs. Ghanaian akan womens experiences of widowhood and property rights.
Widowhood the psychological traps how to deal with them loss of a spouse is considered one of lifes most stressful experiences. The impact of widowhood rite on the ghanaian woman in the. A religious viewpoint introduction africa is one continent with several worlds. Widowhood practices cross borders, please dont think it only happens in nigeria or just africa for the matter. That is not to say that all the practices are negative as this post also highlights some positive ones. While culture is a very important thing to a society or nation at large, there are certain practices in certain cultures which are backwards and do not lead to the progress or development of the society.
Like most countries, widows in ghana are subjected to these widowhood rites. Read online widowhood practices of the gbi northern ewe of ghana a womens health this paper, therefore, investigated widowhood practices among the gbiewes of northern volta region in ghana, so as to ascertain whether these rites and practices are only targeted at dehumanising. Tasie department of religious and cultural studies university of port harcourt nigeria abstract studies on widowhood rites in africa generally bemoan what scholars consider as unpleasant treatment of. She has therefore called for the abolishment of all weird widowhood practices from the. For as much as ghanaians love tradition, its worth noting that some. It also examines the norms associated to widowhood which were particularly applicable to balikumbat widows.
Widowhood practices in subsaharan africa ssa have been detrimental to womens general wellbeing and as such considered a serious social problem. These widows find themselves in 75 different ethnic groups, most of which discriminate against widows. Witchcraft, widowhood rites and female genital mutilation fgm. It further argues that, the institution of widowhood had experienced some evolutionary dynamics since the inception of modernity. Across different cultures and traditions in ssa, widows are subject to a wide range of plights and reprehensible oppression following the death of a spouse. Nigeria is a patriarchal society, thus women are regarded as less human beings.
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