African widows face significant challenges, grappling with discrimination and disinheritance. Despite their resilience and determination, widows are often excluded, marginalized and disenfranchised as they struggle to make ends meet and find their place in society.

“For many women, becoming a widow does not just mean the heartache of losing a husband, but often losing everything else as well,” stated Cherri Blair. Governments implementing policies within these areas are key to building sustainable and universal empowerment of African Widows.

Challenges Faced by African Widows

The myriad of challenges that threaten African widows’ very survival include:

1. Extreme Poverty: In many patriarchal societies, women are often viewed as second-class citizens and widowhood can reduce their social status further. Without access to socioeconomic support from the government, many widows are forced to live in poverty. This hardship extends to their children. Furthermore, this perpetuates a cycle of generational poverty that, for many, has become almost synonymous with widowhood in Africa.
2. Social Stigma and Discrimination: Cultural norms frequently lead communities to shun widows, sometimes accusing them of being cursed or even blaming them for their husband’s death. These beliefs sustain widowhood as a shameful status, resulting in ostracism and marginalization. This stigma can extend into religious and social communities, leading to isolation and disconnection from family, friends and community support.
3. Emotional Trauma: The cultural portrayal of widowhood as “accursed” exposes widows to lasting grief, loneliness and mental health challenges exacerbated by inadequate support systems. The loss of a spouse, coupled with the new responsibility of being the head of the family, often intensifies emotional struggles. Widows may face an overwhelming mix of fear, shame and pain. Unfortunately, this frequently leads to suicidal thoughts, especially when they lack access to counseling or support services.
4. Legal Vulnerabilities: Inheritance rights disputes, property conflicts and restricted access to justice are common challenges often seen as a norm. African Widows are frequently denied their rightful inheritance. Their property and assets are seized by their husbands’ families or other relatives. With little or no legal protection, many widows are left with no safety net. They are exposed to further vulnerability, exploitation and abuse.

The Almanah Hope Foundation

The Almanah Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Nigeria, stands as a beacon of light to African widows by bridging the gap between the “cold sweat of stigmatization and the hot flashes of economic hardship” widows in Africa encounter. The organization has implemented a multifaceted approach to address these complex issues: 

1. Radio Program: “A Widow’s Window”: “A Widow’s Window” is Nigeria’s first family radio talk show dedicated to widowhood. It offers widows a powerful platform to share their experiences and reclaim their voices. Beyond mentoring and empowering widows, the show has helped many reclaim their assets through the exposure it provides. It has also inspired similar radio initiatives across Nigeria and Africa, empowering communities to address widowhood more openly.
2. Nigeria Widows Protection Bill: Recognizing the lack of legal protections specifically addressing widows’ social needs, the foundation prepared and submitted a bill to the House of Representatives in 2020. This proposed Act aims to eliminate all forms of repressive cultural practices against widows and safeguard their human rights. The 9th House of Representatives passed the bill, forwarding it to the Senate for concurrence in February 2023.
3. Nigeria Widows Database: One fundamental challenge in distributing COVID-19 palliative measures in Nigeria has been the lack of a comprehensive database, including one specifically for widows. This absence of verified data led to significant issues, such as identity falsification, resource diversion, duplication and wastage of limited resources. It also caused double and rushed registration processes, a shortage of relief materials, inefficient planning and flawed policy implementation. As a result, a considerable number of widows were excluded from receiving critical support during the pandemic. In response, the Almanah Hope Foundation launched the Nigerian Widows Database, endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. This initiative created the first indigenous baseline database for widows. Indeed, more than 30,000 widows registered to date and this continues to grow.
4. Inter-Secondary School Gender-Based Violence Education Competition: In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, the organization established an annual inter-secondary school program that educates students on gender-based violence (GBV) and its impacts. Since its inception in 2017, more than 200 public secondary schools have participated. The program produced the book “Message to the Youth,” which explores the causes and effects of GBV. More than 1,000 copies have been distributed to participants in Anambra and Lagos states.
5. The African Widows Summit (TAWS): Furthermore, the organization has established the African Widows Growth and Development Initiative (AWGaDi) to address the shared challenges African widows face. This initiative organizes continental summits, including the TAWS, an annual high-profile conference bringing together African stakeholders, leaders and widows. TAWS aims to provide political leadership and guidance to the African Union and its member states on widowhood issues. Furthermore, the organization seeks to influence policies and actions that protect and empower widows across the continent.

These initiatives, among others, demonstrate the Almanah Hope Foundation’s commitment to supporting widows in Africa.

Summary

Widows in Africa continue to face significant challenges, including a lack of economic opportunities, marginalization and stigmatization. However, the Almanah Hope Foundation addresses these issues through various initiatives, including a radio program and an annual African widows’ summit. These programs raise awareness of the obstacles African widows encounter and empower them to advocate for their rights and well-being.

– Staff Reports
Photo: Flickr