Harmful Traditional Practices: Eliminating Discrimination in the Burial of Childless Adults

Abstract

Nigeria has many ethnic groups with diverse traditions and customs like female circumcision, widowhood rites, disinheritance
of widows, etc. Some of these traditions are discriminatory, harmful, and repugnant yet they are accepted by inhabitants of
those places. Tradition of a people is a way of behaving, thinking or doing something that has been followed by a particular
community, society, family for a long time. One of such traditions is the practice of burying childless adults in the evil forest called Abada‘. It exists in Egbema in Imo and Rivers State of Nigeria. It is the focus of this paper. It is a practice that needs to be eliminated because of the negative social, physical, mental and psychological impact on the family and the childless person; it is stigmatizing, discriminatory and against human dignity. It is unconstitutional by virtue of Sections 17 and 42 of the Nigerian Constitution and United Nations Treaties like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights etc. Though these international instruments provide only for protection of women, it can also be applied to the men who suffer harm from the practice. It is an area that has not been delved into hence much of the information used was through oral interviews of people in the community. It will serve to bring this harmful practice to the fore and with advocacy and enlightenment, provide a platform for ensuring that it is eliminated.