Significance of Widowhood Practice in Lonely Days

Give an account of the significance of widowhood practice in the novel.

The most common practice in Kufi is widowhood. The death of a husband is a nightmare to e womenfolk in Kufi. When Ajumobi died, his wife, Yaremi had things occupying her mind. First, she lamented over her loneliness caused by the demise of Ajurmiobi. That apart, several obnoxious practices reduce the dignity and status of womanhood. These include shaving a widow’s hairs completely to the scalp, pouring cold water over them, compelling thorn to sip the libation water to purge thorn of alleged sins, forcing them to sit by the corpse all night and most importantly to confess that they killed their husbands.

Widows are expected to trek along the muddy and slippery path called, “the widow’s road”. It is along this road that she is tree to express hem self freely without hindrance. She is not to resist the demands of tradition no matter what.

A widow is expected to participate actively in the “Cap nicking” ceremony. In this ceremony, caps are displayed, each representing a suitor. A widow is expected to choose one, The choice of a cap signifies the choice of a new husband. Dedewe, Fayoyin and Radeke passed through this traditional experience. Yaremi is to do the same. However; Yaremi resists this cultural subjugation. For other women, Yaremi has done what the law abhors. The men of Kufi are shocked and she risks being ostracized because she disobeyed tradition. The other women had argued, “Let all of us, women of this land, learn to be humble, meek arid submissive…We quickly readjusted and embraced the demands of tradition; the tradition of our people (Kufi) is the guiding light of opening our eyes to many things”. (p.111).

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