…With Husband’s Family
The Story Of Her Mgbafu Mkpe Ceremony
The late wife of the former governor of Ondo State, Betty Akeredolu, who is the wife of late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu has been remarried.
The widow of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has been reintegrated into the Akeredolu family.
This decision was made by the Emeabiam Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, who handed her over to her late husband’s younger brother, Professor Wole Akeredolu.
Each tribe in Nigeria has its traditions and culture when it comes to widows or widowers. In Imo state, they have a unique culture and tradition they adopted when it comes to the death of a spouse. A few days ago, the family of the widow of the late Governor of Ondo State, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, performed Mgbafu Mkpe on her and she was repossessed by the family of her late husband.
The repossession celebration took place at the Emeabiam Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, where the Anyanwu family decided to hand over their daughter to the younger brother of Aketi, Wole Akeredolu.
Held on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, the First Lady posted photos of the ceremony on her Instagram handle, where the Umuegeolu kindred handed her over to her late husband’s immediate younger brother, Professor Wole Akeredolu.
The handover back to the Akeredolus was the climax of the ceremony. This was after the Akeredolus had indicated interest in still having Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the Ada Owere 1 in their family after the demise of her husband.
Before the handover, the Akeredolus had presented kolanuts, palm wine and she-goat to the Umuegeolu kindred including food to the Anyanwus as tradition demands.
Responding on behalf of the Akeredolus, Prof. Wole Akeredolu expressed gratitude to the family, the Umuegeolu kindred and the entire Emeabiam Community for their hospitality. He formally informed them of the demise of his elder brother and their in-law who had since been buried. He pledged to continue to cater and care for their wife, Betty.
He also thanked all those who were in Ibadan Oyo State to commiserate with the Akeredolu family and the ones who were in Owo to witness the interment of Gov Akeredolu’s remains on February 23, 2024.
The former first lady, who was clad in a black gown with a touch of white stripes and dark sun shade, signalling that the mourning period was not yet over did not respond after the ceremony. Present at the ceremony were Umuegeolu family members, Nde Mgboto Emeabiamn (Daughters of the soil) and Oha n’Ikoro Emeabiam (Elders Council).
Mgbafu Mkpe is a traditional Igbo ceremony performed shortly after the demise and burial of a woman’s husband in Igboland. The family of the woman’s husband would indicate interest in still having the widow live with them or not. Upon saying yes, the in-laws would hand over the widow back to the husband’s family after performing some rituals. Should the husband’s family say no, certain rituals are also conducted to free the woman from her husband’s family.
Late Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, fondly called Aketi, died in December 2023 after battling with cancer. He was buried in February 2024. Weeks after his burial, his Owerri in-laws performed the traditional Mgbafu Mkpe ceremony of Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his widow.
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