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Widowhood Practices in the Western Highlands of Cameroon: Continuing Values in a Changing World

by

Pingpoh Margaret Hongwe

Cameroon Association of University Women (CAMAUW)

C/O P.O.Box 51 Bamenda

North West Province, Cameroon

April 2004

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Widowhood practices in the Western Highlands of Cameroon constitute severe human rights violations, and abuses all of which compound the emotional and psychological pain at the death of a husband. These practices involve stripping the bereaved woman naked, clean-shaving her, causing her to sit and sleep on bare floor for weeks, rubbing her with unpleasant substances, restricting her movements, and forcing her to mourn her husband under inhuman conditions. The rationales for these practices are many and varied. Hardly is any death considered natural. Most deaths are attributed to witchcraft and the power of witchcraft is very often attributed to women. When a man dies, the society quickly accuses the wife. The ill treatment of the widow is considered a punishment, a test of fidelity and a cleansing exercise. To many the practice is simply a custom, and to those older in widowhood, an assurance of continuity. This practice is a problem because it degrades the woman, violates her rights and reduces her self-esteem.  She is isolated, neglected and dejected at a time she needs comfort most. For a period of one year the widow is prevented from carrying out her economic activities, and performing her new household head functions. This affects her dependents in many ways. The vexing problem is that the widower is mildly treated and only for a brief period. He is neither isolated, nor restricted nor neglected. Infact, he can return to work immediately after the burial of the wife and even remarry soon after. It is unjustifiable to have a lenient practice for the man and a rigid one for the woman in similar circumstances. It is my strong desire to change this practice, and women have to take the lead in the struggle.

I intend to bring about change through education and legislation.

For those who are already widows, I intend to organize them into associations/groups and train them through seminars and workshops in income generating activities, human rights, as well as educate them on health matters.

The second aspect of change shall involve organizing seminars and workshops in the villages to sensitize women and traditional leaders on the shortcomings of widowhood practices. I shall persuade and appeal to the traditional leaders to stop the practices, failure of which I shall lobby through the politicians and law-makers into passing a law in parliament forbidding such practices.

I intend to establish a Women Resource Center (WRC) in Cameroon to organize and coordinate these activities.

Introduction

In the culture of the people of the Western Highlands of Cameroon, a husband is almost everything in the family. He is the main bread winner of the family, and has the final say in family matters. He is the protector and defender of the family. In fact, the importance of any wife is measured by the husband’s position or achievements in the community. In this light, the loss of the husband causes the widow great pain and sorrow. If one considers the statistics that one out of every three women in the area is a widow, then one can imagine how many women have gone through these pain and sorrow. The widow’s grief and sorrow is increased by negative traditional/cultural practices upon the husband’s death; practices here called widowhood practices.

Description of the Widowhood practices in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Widowhood practices in the Western Highlands of Cameroon constitute severe Human Rights violation, and abuses all of which compound the emotional and psychological pain at the death of husband.

From the day a husband dies his wife is forbidden from wearing clothes, except rags. In some cultures, the widow is expected to undress before men. She is clean-shaven wherever there is hair on the body. She is not allowed to bathe; instead she is rubbed with cam wood from her head to toes. Rope made from the back of a fig tree is rubbed with cam wood and palm oil and tied around her waist. The poor woman is given a staff made from bamboo which she takes along wherever she goes. A small white raffia bag is hung on her left arm in which she can put her kola nuts, snuff and tobacco to smoke away some of her miserable thoughts. Her belongings are a taboo to touch except by other widows. She is neglected, dejected and isolated. She sleeps on plantain leaves on the floor and moves barefooted. She is not allowed to cook, but food is served to her on a plantain leave as a plate by older widows. Her movements are restricted. On the final day of the death celebration of her deceased husband, the widow is obliged to move with her buttocks on the ground round the celebration yard. All the above described process takes seven weeks, after which the widow is allowed to wear mourning dress (black or white) for one year. After one year and in commemoration of the first anniversary of the husband’s death, the widow removes all her mourning clothes and wears her normal dresses from then on. In most cultures of the area, woman is considered the man’s property and cannot be allowed to inherit the husband’s property. Rather, she as property has to be inherited at this stage by the next of kin or any male relative of the deceased husband.

On the celebration day of the deceased husband, the widows move on their buttocks round the celebration ground, under the watchful eyes of older widows and sympathizers

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