Title: My mother's decision:
Year: 2006
Subjects: Patriarchy.; Husband and wife.; Pregnancy Drama.; Women Nigeria Social conditions.; Male domination (Social structure); Wives.; Love Drama; Families.; Man-woman relationships.; Housewives Nigeria.
Abstract: Because Amuti and her husband Peter are getting on in years and they only have daughters, their standing in the community has been diminished. Peter's younger brother has several sons, and as a result he has taken on the role of family patriarch, a position that normally would fall to his older brother. Now the family's inheritance is threatened because the farm land where Peter grows his vegetables will eventually be taken over by his younger brother. According to village tradition, Peter's daughters cannot inherit the land. Peter and Amuti need a male heir, otherwise the family will become destitute. Amuti has a plan, they will leave the village for nine months, return with a young boy and everyone will assume that Amuti became pregnant during the journey. Peter thinks the plan is a terrible idea, but Amuti reminds him "you are nobody without a male child."