ABSTRACT
This project examines the widowhood practices in two African novels, Bayo Adebowale’s Lonely Days and Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter. These literary works, set in distinct contexts, offer great insights into the different challenges faced by widows in the African society.
In Lonely Days, Adebowale vividly depicts the Yoruba widowhood customs, exposing the physical, emotional and economic hardship imposed on widows like Yaremi. Rituals and societal expectations strip them of status and dignity, leaving them isolated and excluded.
Ba’s So Long a Letter takes readers to Senegal, unveiling the complexities of widowhood within the Senegalese society, the isolation, economic struggles and emotional turmoil faced by Ramatoulaye. These experiences are similar to widows experiences across Africa.
This project analyse issues of maltreatment, deprivation and social isolation of widows in the face of the oppressive traditions. By shedding light on these, this project contributes to a deeper understanding of the plight of widows in the African society.
