WIDOWHOOD RITES OF THE EDO PEOPLE

ABSTRACT

This research effort focuses on the sociolinguistic analysis of widowhood rites of the Edo people. Edo is a language in the Western part of Edo State and it is actually spoken in seven speech communities in the state which are: Oredo, Orhionmwon, Uhumwonde, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia South East and Ovia North East Local Government Areas of Edo State. This work aims at describing how widows are treated among the Edo speaking people. Data gathered for this study were collected from personal interviews from widows who have undergone widowhood rite and some documentary in the internet. The theoretical framework adopted for this study is as presented by Blumer (1962) which is a descriptive approach. The major findings of this study however reveals that widows among the Edo people are treated badly and it is as a result of the culture of the people which the elders must enforce. Some of the widowhood rites performed are to scare the spirits of the dead husband from coming to the widow. It is recommended that the government of Edo State should formulate and implement policies that will be beneficial and probably reduce the ill treatment spelt out on the widow whose husbands are native speakers of the language.