Widows, widowhood, and society in Africa

Abstract

Widowhood in African society often draws two emotions: pity and shame. These emotions are based on the woman's location or social connection, age, status, class, or ethnicity. These factors are tied by the common string of "social belonging." Widowhood experiences can, therefore, be pleasant or painful. This chapter examines the concept of widowhood, as well as widowhood rites within African society, informed by religion and culture. Using critical feminist frameworks, we explore the plight of widows and the concept of widowhood in African society. The chapter also employs an intersectionality and vulnerability approach to discuss the concept of selfhood and personhood and utilizes case studies to demonstrate the complexities that exist in using a human rights approach in addressing the plight of widows in Africa. Furthermore, we assert that beyond human "rights" is the human "part," which is the crux of the paradoxes of successfully addressing the challenges of widows in Africa. The chapter concludes that the ethics for addressing widowhood in an African society must focus on addressing the "human part" - the vulnerabilities (e.g., moral, religious, cultural, and socioeconomic) embedded in social relations that constrains both the widow and society.