Vinapriscaz Blog

The meeting was straight to the point. First, the head of the Umuada was called to remind the people of what a widowed woman was expected to go through. The things I heard broke my heart. "Firstly, you must shave off all your hair, you will sleep on the bare floor in your sitting room alone for three months, you will wear only rags till at least one year after your husband has been buried, you will not eat any solid food till your husband is buried, and on the day of your husband's burial, his corpse will be washed and you will drink the water to prove you didn't kill him. Then after a one year mourning period, you will become a wife to  any of your husband's brothers that desires you". These were the words that came out of the mouth of the leader of the Umuada. I couldn't believe it. Why would widowed women have to go through all these for no fault of theirs? These women should be shown love and care and instead this is what they get? I was appalled! At t...

When I had settled down, I engaged my host in a conversation and I found out that the village was in excitement over the refusal of a woman- a widow who had just lost her husband, to obey the laws laid down by the Umuada to be observed by all widows immediately her husband dies. The woman, Akunna a mother of 4 children lost her husband two weeks ago. She and her late husband resided in the city and were forced back to the village due to hardship seven years ago. Though without any formal education, Akunna was an enlightened woman. She wouldn’t bulge to the pressure mounted on her by the Umuada to keep to the age long tradition of the community. Hence, the village head called for a meeting of all the villagers to the market square the next day to decide on the suitable punishment for her. It was the first time the law was disregarded. I was just in time, I thought to myself. Being present at the meeting tomorrow would enable me get the information I needed first hand. So I thanked my...