Nigeria: Whether there are Yoruba ritual practices where a wife must have sexual relations with her father-in-law while pregnant with her first child to ensure a long life for the father-in-law, husband, and child; consequences for refusal; options to obtain a restraining order without the help of the police (2006-August 2016)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 August 2016 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA105601.E |
| Related Document(s) | Nigéria : information indiquant s'il existe un rituel yorouba dans le cadre duquel une épouse doit, pendant sa première grossesse, avoir des relations sexuelles avec son beau-père afin d'assurer une longue vie à celui-ci, à son époux et à son enfant; information sur les conséquences d'un refus; les moyens d'obtenir une injonction sans l'aide de la police (2006-août 2016) |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Whether there are Yoruba ritual practices where a wife must have sexual relations with her father-in-law while pregnant with her first child to ensure a long life for the father-in-law, husband, and child; consequences for refusal; options to obtain a restraining order without the help of the police (2006-August 2016), 23 August 2016, NGA105601.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/584403ab4.html [accessed 19 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
Information on the subject heading of this Response was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of comparative religious studies at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, who has researched and published on Yoruba religion and culture, stated that, to her knowledge, there are no ritual practices where a wife must have sexual relations with her father-in-law while pregnant with her first child (Professor 3 Aug. 2016). The same source added that, "it should be noted that some families have peculiar rituals which may be linked to their lineage experiences" (ibid.). Without providing further information, the Professor also indicated the following:
A wife may refuse to participate in this ritual, but the consequences include divorce and/or denial of child custody. If a woman seeks the protection from the police when faced with such a ritual, the police will "likely treat it as a domestic issue which is to be settled at home," unless she hires a lawyer to file a legal complaint on her behalf. NGOs are another potential source of assistance, but they are constrained by the lack of resources. Obtaining a restraining order without the help of the police can be done "through legal practitioners" (Professor 3 Aug. 2016). Corroboration for the information provided by the Professor could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. For further information on domestic violence, including state response and protection orders, see Response to Information Request NGA104980 of October 2014.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Professor of comparative religious studies, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. 3 August 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Associate Professor of philosophy, Howard University; Center for Women Studies and Intervention; Professor of anthropology, University of California Los Angeles; Professor of Yoruba studies, University of Lagos; Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University; Senior Lecturer of comparative religion and African religions, Obafemi Awolowo University; Senior Lecturer of comparative religious studies, University of Ilorin; Senior Lecturer of sociology of religion, gender and religion, and African religion, Obafemi Awolowo University; Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative.
Internet sites, including: Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre; BBC; CNBC; ecoi.net; Factiva; Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme; The Guardian; Human Rights Watch; IRIN; The Journal of International Social Research; The Nation; Nigeria - National Human Rights Commission; Nigerian Tribune; Norway - Landinfo; Premium Times; Punch; Radio France internationale; The Sun; This Day; UN - Refworld, Reliefweb; US - Department of State; Vanguard; Women's Health and Action Research Centre; Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative.
