This is the story of an African woman whose real name is Martha. Martha became a mother when she was about fourteen years old in circumstances not of her own choosing. In fact, Martha is now an unmarried mother of two sons. This is how it happened.
Martha was an intelligent girl entering her teenage years and was about to complete the primary school in the small village of Owe in Cameroon. Even though she was about to graduate top of her class, her parents informed her that her marriage to a young man who was about twenty-six years old had been arranged. Martha was devastated and in spite of her protestations, she was forced into the marriage. She became pregnant shortly after and gave birth to a boy. Not long after that, her husband died of tetanus infection and Martha became a widow. But, as tradition demanded, Martha was to become the wife of the brother of her dead husband. And so she was handed over to the dead husband's brother as wife. She had another son with her new husband in just within a year of the new marriage. After about two years, however, the marriage failed and Martha returned to her parent's home with two sons and a hopeless future.
Currently, Martha is about thirty-three years old and about to graduate from high school.
Martha's story is a true story and I know about the story because Martha is my sister.
As we celebrate this Mother's Day, let us remember the Marthas of Africa and around the world - those women who suffer under the weight of patriarchal traditions that make them mothers against their wishes. Let's continue to think about how to evolve traditions that actually dignify motherhood and make it a joy, indeed. I am not quite sure how to say "Happy Mother's Day" to Martha.
Martha was an intelligent girl entering her teenage years and was about to complete the primary school in the small village of Owe in Cameroon. Even though she was about to graduate top of her class, her parents informed her that her marriage to a young man who was about twenty-six years old had been arranged. Martha was devastated and in spite of her protestations, she was forced into the marriage. She became pregnant shortly after and gave birth to a boy. Not long after that, her husband died of tetanus infection and Martha became a widow. But, as tradition demanded, Martha was to become the wife of the brother of her dead husband. And so she was handed over to the dead husband's brother as wife. She had another son with her new husband in just within a year of the new marriage. After about two years, however, the marriage failed and Martha returned to her parent's home with two sons and a hopeless future.
Currently, Martha is about thirty-three years old and about to graduate from high school.
Martha's story is a true story and I know about the story because Martha is my sister.
As we celebrate this Mother's Day, let us remember the Marthas of Africa and around the world - those women who suffer under the weight of patriarchal traditions that make them mothers against their wishes. Let's continue to think about how to evolve traditions that actually dignify motherhood and make it a joy, indeed. I am not quite sure how to say "Happy Mother's Day" to Martha.
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