WIDOWHOOD AND LEVIRATE AS A GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AFRICAN WOMEN: AN APPROACH TO BAYO ADEBOWALE’S LONELY DAYS

Abstract

This paper analyses widowhood and levirate in traditional African societies as a real hindrance to the social blossoming of the African woman in a male-dominated society. After the decease of the husband in some traditional African societies, the widow suffers a lot from her inlaws. The torment inflicted upon the widow by phallocentric systems is visible in Bayo Adebowale’s Lonely Days through episodes of widows’ mental and physical sufferings. The study points out how male chauvinism and the practice of bride-price nurture the phenomena of widowhood and levirate in traditional Africa and suggests measures to lessen the bereaved women’s lots such as the banishment of such negative cultural practices and the recognition of the equal rights for both men and women in society. In this framework, the paper sides with the feminist vision of human societies to advocate for justice-based communities where both genders swear to each other mutual respect of their common and unique dignity. Socio-criticism and postcolonial criticism are used to achieve this goal.