MOURNING RITUALS: CASE STUDY OF WIDOWS IN EZIMO COMMUNITY

Anayo Ossai (PhD)

Abstract


The paper studies the rituals that surround the mourning of husbands in Ezimo community of Nsukka cultural area of Igboland. The study ascertains that these ritual practices have been misrepresented by some Christians and some advocates of westernization as an evil practice against widows. This work contends that such disposition may be misleading and diversionary from the realities of the people’s tradition. The rituals express Igbo ontology and cosmology, and also ensure safety, respect and protection of widows, which aim to achieve cordial relationship between the widows and the supra mundane, and equally maintain peace and morality in the community. The research discovered that some Christian widows of this recent time interpose Christian and traditional practices in the mourning rituals. This indicates that the people of Ezimo or Igboland in general have not fully accepted the Christian mourning rites because it contradicts the people’s concept of death and belief in the socio-religious significance of the traditional mourning rituals.

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