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Widow Inheritance

Tiv

Kwase Dyako

Marriage Customs 📅 July 14, 2026 👁 4 views

🌐 English Summary

A traditional Tiv custom in which a widow was inherited by her deceased husband's brother or another close male relative to provide protection and preserve the family lineage.

🌐 English

Kwase Dyako was a traditional Tiv practice of widow inheritance. After a man's death, his widow could be inherited by his brother or another close male relative. In some cases, a son could also inherit one of his deceased father's widows, provided she was not his own mother. The purpose of this arrangement was not to create a new marriage but to ensure the continued care, protection, and economic support of the widow and her children while preserving the deceased husband's family line. Any children born from the new union were traditionally regarded as belonging to the deceased husband rather than the inheriting relative. To formalize the arrangement and ensure the widow's well-being and fertility, both parties underwent a traditional ritual known as Megh, during which a fowl was ceremonially passed beneath their joined legs. Today, Kwase Dyako is no longer widely practiced but remains an important aspect of Tiv cultural history.
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