Assessing Widowhood and Widowerhood from the perspective of Annang Ethnic Nationality of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Widowhood is the transition from being married to either being a widow or widower. A widow is a woman who has lost her spouse or partner by death and usually has not remarried, while a widower is a man who has lost his wife, and in the like vein, has not remarried. This study explored specifically, the effects of the barbaric/anachronistic rites of passage performed on widows, on their health, the implications and its effects on the individual and the society at large. Literature was reviewed and liberal feminist theory was used. The study adopted a descriptive research design, and responses from the three villages; Ikot Idem Udo, Ntong Uno and Ikot Ukpong, in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were used to describe/generalize the entire study population of Annang Community. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The sample size consisted of 280 respondents. Findings from the study revealed that widowhood rites have adverse effects on the health of these widows and society as a whole. The study recommended laws should be constituted against these practices and severe penalties attached to defaulters, and that spouses should always draw up their last will, while alive.