Women mourn, men carry on: Gendered dimensions of mourning in African contexts

Abstract

It is common in African culture for a widow to wear black or navy clothes as a sign of mourning her husband upon his death. Widows in Africa are expected to mourn for a period of 12 months. Vows in Western culture state, ‘until death do us part’; this is not the case in African traditions. A widow is still considered married even after her husband’s death. There are mourning rituals that she must undergo as a widow to mourn her husband. There are rituals designed for widows by certain tribes or cultures which are influenced by that group’s beliefs and values and might not always make sense to those outside that group. Sometimes these rituals are practices rooted in the participants’ beliefs and values and those of their families, and are often passed down from generation to generation.
Contribution: This study aims to explore the ceremonies and practices administered to and for widows during their mourning period, using a literature review. This study also aims to explore Africa’s perspective on how men are expected to mourn differently when their spouses pass on and what role Practical Theology can play in response to these practices.