Widowhood practices and the church in South-East Nigeria

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Authors

Nwaoga, Chinyere Theresa
Uroko, Favour Chukwuemeka
Okoli, Anuli B.
Okwuosa, L.N. (Lawrence)

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AOSIS

Abstract

Widowhood practice is an unjust cultural practice directed against women who lose their husbands. The effects of this long-time culture on society, especially women, are continuing even in the 21st century as a result of rules, laws and regulations, and cultural values that have been laid down by the ancestors and nurtured by subsequent generations. The findings of the research indicated that discriminatory widowhood practices were humiliating to women and were made by men to relegate women to the background. This article, therefore, studied this cultural practice in Igboland in order to create a niche for the church in its alleviation. Nevertheless, it is on record that Christian churches have made remarkable efforts to alleviate the plight of widows. However, a lot is still expected for the total eradication of this age-old tradition. CONTRIBUTION : The church has an enormous role to play in the fight against unjust cultural practices against women in Igboland. The church was chosen because of the respect that people of Igboland give to priests and other members of a religious community.

Description

This research article is part of the research project ‘Africa Platform for NT Scholars’, directed by Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck, Department of New Testament Studies and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.
Special Collection: Africa Platform for NT Scholars, sub-edited by Ernest van Eck (University of Pretoria).

Keywords

Practice, Church, Women, Gender, Widowhood

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Nwaoga, C.T., Uroko, F.C., Okoli, A.B. & Okwuosa, L., 2021, ‘Widowhood practices and the church in South-East Nigeria’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Theological Studies 77(1), a6528. https://DOI.org/10.4102/hts.v77i1.6528.