By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka

A research report has uncovered that women in Anambra state are prohibited from eating gizzards including cooking or serving food to their male counterparts while menstruating.

The study, entitled Assessing the Rights of Women and Girls in Anambra State, also disclosed that most communities in the state forbade married women from practicing any religion or reporting family issues to the police station without the consent of their husbands or the husbands' family (if demised).

This was presented by Barr Uju Okeke
at “a-one day consultative meeting with traditional gate keepers and duty bearers in Anambra state on ‘ensuring the elimination of Violence Against Women (VAWG) and the Operationalization of the State of Emergency on SGBV declared by the Nigerian Governors Forum” organised in Awka by the Women Aid Council (WACOL) with sponsorship from Ford Foundation.

Okeke, who said the research was conducted across nine communities in nine Local Government Areas within the three senatorial zones of the state between December 1 to 20, 2020, explained that the research participants administered with questionnaires (interviewed) were people who had experienced or were part of the norms and practices.

She added that the research also uncovered other norms and practices perpetuating sex stereotypes and gender inequalities in Anambra state, while the communities visited were Ukpo in Dunukofia LGA, Nawfia (Njikoka LGA), Nnobi (Idemili South, Nise (Awka South LGA) and Onitsha in Onitsha North. Others were Nteje in Oyi LGA, Umumbo (Ayamelum), Nnewi in Nnewi North and Owerre-Ezukala in Orumba South LGA.

In another presentation, How VAWG results to underdevelopment in our local communities, Prof. Ogugua Ikpeze of the Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, implored the Igbo nation to shun all cultural practices undermining the rights of women in the society, due to their overall negative impact.

Ikpeze, while listing some causes of violence against women to include poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, get Rich Syndrome, patriarchy, greedy, environment and customary Practices, charged men to have a rethink or face prosecution in line with the extant laws of the state like Widowhood and Widowerhood Prohibition Law (2005), Child Rights Law (2004), Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (2017), and Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) law (2010).

One of the participants and Traditional Ruler of Akwaeze, Anaocha LGA, HRH Igwe Christopher Okpala, commended WACOL for the programme, assuring that the traditional institutions would never relent in promoting women participation and advancement.

Earlier, the founder of WACOL, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, represented by Ms Ijoma Uzoeshi, programme Manager, WACOL, hinted that the project was aimed at transforming traditional institutions, advance women’s rights campaign to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls, and improve access to justice by enhancing women’s capacity to engage traditional and cultural leaders.

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So has it been since the time of our ancestors

Generally in the East, the ladies keep the gizzard for the head of the family not just any man, not that they are banned from eating it, it only represents respect and humility to the head of the household, as for menstruation, not all men like their partners cooking for them when on menses, but if your hubby accepts it, you are good to go.

An amazing Igbo gizzard culture...
Spiced Guinea fowl Gizzard with a bottle of pepsi!



Where's lalasticlacla sef

I know about the gizzard part but the not "serving" mails while menstruating is false at least in my own part of Anambra.

Igbo culture glorifies men a lot but some mischievous elements would argue that women are given a certain power by citing umuadas but I only see them as tools to further mail superiority in Igbo land and a nuisance also.

Its just like a white person making a black slave in charge of his fellow black slaves it definitely promotes him to a higher status but he's still a black niqqa that's how it is for umuadas or any other high ranking women in the Igbo society.

Any idiot who has marital issues blames it on tradition. what has gizzard got to do with violence against women?