Abstract
The practice of returning a deceased married female to her paternal home for burial is common amongst the Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri and Ndokwa people of Delta State, Nigeria. The aim of this study therefore is to analyse the propriety of the said custom, the issues, prospects and challenges faced by the spouse/children of a deceased female with a view to change this cultural misfit and ultimately curb the menace it poses to the society at large. This research finds that the practice is not sacred. The practice is based on the tradition which states that marriage is not a contract of sale of the woman. Thus, the woman is expected back at the end of the marriage whether dead or alive. This study establishes that the said custom is otiose and a violation of her husband/children’s deserved rights and obligations to her. It is recommended that undue refusals to inter her corpse in her matrimonial home should be discouraged by proper legislation by giving the absolute right to the spouse/children of the deceased female to determine the time, manner and place of her burial.
Authors: Oghale Eloho Emuobonuvie
