THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF MOURNING: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF WIDOWHOOD AND BURIAL PRACTICES IN NKEREFI, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study is an ethnographic exploration of the cultural politics of mourning in Nkerefi, a rural community in southeastern Nigeria. It examines traditional burial practices with particular attention to the experiences of widows during the burial and mourning process. The study finds that these practices are shaped by a complex interplay of cultural norms and expectations that often privilege the interests and needs of men over those of women. It also reveals that widows in Nkerefi face significant social, economic, and emotional challenges during this period, including loss of property and livelihood, social isolation and stigmatisation, as well as emotional trauma and distress. Using a qualitative research methodology involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with widows and other stakeholders in Nkerefi, the study uncovers the complex and often fraught nature of burial and mourning practices in the community. It argues that the cultural politics of mourning in Nkerefi are informed by patriarchal ideologies that reinforce the subordination and marginalization of women. The study concludes that the experiences of widows in Nkerefi are shaped by intersecting cultural, social, and economic factors, and that these experiences have significant implications for understanding the broader cultural politics of mourning in rural Nigeria.