Izuchukwu OkosiThe Igbo culture on inheritance as regards the rights of a widow is a curios one.
Previously in most parts of the South Eastern states of Nigeria, when a man dies, his surviving wife (or wives) and children are expected to inherit his properties.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSometimes, in cases where the man had lands or properties to let/rent, he may have given such to his wife/wives and/or the children while alive for their upkeeps.
This, it must be noted is usually the case when it is not a monogamous relationship but polygamous.
When the patriarch of the family dies, his properties are expected to remain the ‘living’ inheritance of the party that benefited from it thanks to the approval of the father.
We shall revisit certain aspects of these marriage types and the merits and demerits of them.
However, in most families, the late man’s relatives usually bring up the issue of the ‘Nkushi Nwanyi’ (also known as Levirate marriage) system as they hope to keep the family lineage going.
This is done with a member of the family expected to remarry the woman.
As despicable and odd as that may sound, it has become the reality for most women in the Igbo race.
READ ALSO:The Place Of Girls In Contemporary Igbo Society
Igbo widowship has been widely condemned by human rights organizations who believe that such stereotypes should not continue to exist.
The gender inequality perpetrated by skewed and most times unfair treatment and judgement of the women who have lost their husbands is seemingly unending with continual reports of ill treatments to this age and time.
Most in-laws accuse the widows of being responsible for the demise of their relative.
They are forced to pass through terrible ordeals that sometimes also lead to their deaths, or long lasting anguish, mental and physical side-effects.
Basically, women are explicitly forbidden from owning properties after the deaths of their husbands who may have far older than them.
This is intrinsically connected to the fact that such women could be tempted to remarry.
In such scenerios, women are considered as ‘strangers’ who may come to reap more than they should sowed.
The old saying that women’s place in the family should be restricted to the kitchen and ‘the other room’ was passed down to generations due to the experiences of the past.
Not all women are ready to become irresponsible and be unfaithful to their spouses leading to suspicion and mistrust but the rotten thumb that picked up the oil has ruined the rest of the hand.
A woman is only expected to keep the property in place for the sons she bore for her late husband.
In a case whereby she had no male children, the daughters are not entitled to their father’s properties because they are deemed as eligible to earn such stripes in their own husbands’ homes.
A more serious situation for a woman with children for her late partner is when she the child or children without an official wedding ceremony.
This is irrespective of the number of children she had or whether members of the man’s family know her in person.
While in the case of a woman’s death, the man may not be able to legally claim paternity of the children – although he is biologically their father – so does the woman is refused access to the man’s wealth and properties if she comes to the man’s family requesting for her entitlements.
In any case, this is the reason why women are admonished to unite their family members by being virtuous but wise in their dealings with the husband and inlaws.
What are the ways to mitigate unfortunate situations in a family?
1. Respect
The woman’s respect for her husband should be non-negotiable.
Love may not be enough. Gracing his bed or being a good cook may not even cut it.
What keeps a man and ultimately a marriage and ensures that troublesome in-laws are kept at bay is the attitude of the wife.
A dying man who knows his impending death is somewhat associated with a troublesome wife will not be overly worried about the supposed ill treatments she gets from her in-laws.
But a man who feels honoured by his wife will move heavens and the earth to ensure that there are some inheritance safely kept away from the prying eyes of greedy relatives.
2. Spiritual growth
Having a good relationship with one’s God or anything they hold sacred while leading the kind of life that ensures the supreme being and the universe fight for them is important.
While this is not an endorsement for being weak and timid, keeping away from evil has it’s divine rewards in the end after tribulations.
3. Savings
Spend less then you earn and keep the habit of saving for the rainy day – in this context by women in marriages – specifically in the Igbo culture is necessary.
This habit will save one from untold hardships and long-drawn family and legal battles.
4. Minding the home investment
Home is where the heart is, the popular saying goes.
However, sometimes it is best to keep away a few details and properties away from the family.
Saving certain properties perhaps at Mortgage banks will go a long way in checking the excesses of inlaws and even own relatives.
5. Human rights Campaigns
The place of male children cannot be denied in a family.
They basically ensured that the lineage of their father’s continues.
But, the patrilineal system of inheritance has been overly insensitive to the plight of women – mother’s and even daughters alike.
Enlightenment campaigns by the Nigerian (and other parts of Africa) government and traditional institutions should be made a priority to correct these ills in the society.
Not all prospective husbands of men’s daughters would be prosperous as them.
There is need to also protect the lives, comfort and happiness of the ladies who embark on the very difficult journeys of marriage.
This should be done by investing in their futures through properties, money or bonds in their names.
As for monogamous or polygamous relationships, a man is not bound in African culture to stay married with one woman provided that he can cater for their needs.
This should not be done having all members of the family living in same space but settled in different locations and different inheritance laid down for their futures.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
