A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CULTURAL WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES AMONG THE IGBOS AND THE HAUSAS: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CULTURAL WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES AMONG THE IGBOS AND THE HAUSAS: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING
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Date
2000-07
Authors
ATADO, JOSEPH CHUKS
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Abstract
The purpose of this research is to compare cultural widowhood
practices among the Igbos and the Hausas. This was informed by the fact
that many widows in Nigeria today have been subjected to discrimination,
dehumanization and destitution as a result of cultural widowhood practices.
The researcher considered the problem to be significant because the
population of widows is increasing daily in the Nigerian society. Polygamy
also compounds the problems of widows because when a polygamist dies,
he makes several women widows at the same time. Furthermore, the plight
of widows would affect adversely the academic performance as well as the
moral development of their children. Besides, the plight of widows poses a
serious challenge to educators and counsellors who may have to contend
with pupils and students with family related problems emanating from
female-headed homes.
The research therefore examined the major problems encountered by
Igbo and Hausa widows as a result of cultural widowhood practices, the
overriding factors responsible for these widowhood rites, the psychological,
social and economic effects of widowhood on Igbo and Hausa widows, the
efforts of government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) towards
preventing and alleviating the plight of widows in Igbo and Hausa states.
The study further considered the coping strategies adopted by Igbo and
Hausa widows.
Survey research method was used for the study. A sample size of
seven hundred Igbo and Hausa widows was selected using available
sampling technique. Also a population of one hundred Igbo and Hausa
community leaders was sampled with a view to ascertaining the cultural
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interpretation given to these widowhood practices by the two cultures.
Data was obtained by means of questionnaire developed by the
researcher and validated by experts in the fields of educational research and
statistics and in the area of guidance and counselling. Two sets of
questionnaire designed along a 5-point Likert Type Scale were administered
to the widows and the community leaders of both ethnic groups. The first
set of questionnaire, namely, Widowhood Profile Questionnaire (WPQ) was
administered to Igbo and Hausa widows; the second set which is, Cultural
Interpretations of Widowhood Practices was administered to community
leaders of both cultures.
Seven null hypotheses were formulated to guide this investigation. A
t-test for independent sample was used for analysing the data collected. All
the tests were carried out at the 0.05 probability level of significance.
The study revealed the following:
1) That financial difficulty was the main problem of Igbo and Hausa
widows.
2) That culture represented a major factor responsible for widowhood
traditional practices in Igbo and Hausa communities.
3) That cultural widowhood practices did not make Igbo and Hausa
widows have low self-image, feel rejected, insecure, sleepless and
depressed.
4) That Igbo and Hausa widows did not lose societal respect, suffer
isolation, loneliness, role confusion or reduced social status as a
result of traditional widowhood practices.
5) That Igbo widows suffered more economically than their Hausa
counterparts.
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6) That the opinions of Igbo and Hausa community leaders did not differ
significantly in the interpretation of the widowhood practices except
for the interpretations given to the practices of:
i) ritual bath, (ii) levirate, (iii) inheritance of deceased's property,
(iv) scraping the hair or bearing unkept hair.
7) That both Igbo and Hausa widows did not feel the impact of
government efforts towards alleviating the plight of widows in Igbo
and Hausa states.
8) That non-governmental organisations have not taken systematic
measures towards rehabilitating widows in Igbo and Hausa states.
9) That Igbo and Hausa widows differed significantly in their coping
strategies.
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations
were therefore made:
i) The government, church and Muslim Umar, traditional rulers, and
women associations should join hands together to ameliorate the
conditions of widows in Igbo and Hausa states,
ii) While counselling Igbo and Hausa widows, the counsellor should take
cognizance of the developmental stage of each widow as this affects
their ability to cope with the effects of widowhood.
Finally, it was suggested that further comparative study be carried
out on the plight of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa widows. In addition it was
suggested that the impact of religion, family size, and education on the
effects of widowhood on widows should also be examined
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF
PHILOSOPHY IN GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
JULY, 2000
Keywords
A COMPARATIVE,, STUDY,, CULTURAL,, WIDOWHOOD,, PRACTICES,, IGBOS,, HAUSAS,, IMPLICATIONS,, COUNSELLING