Paper short abstract:

A Supyire widow is inherited by her husband’s brother and stays in the patriclan. This paper analyses reactions to the relationships this creates and to the evolution of the custom in recent generations, assesses outside pressure to abolish the practice, and proposes a more gradual way forward.

Paper long abstract:

The Supyire people of Mali practise levirate: when a woman is married, she permanently joins her husband's family, and the marriage is not terminated by his death. Rather, it continues, with one of the husband's younger brothers (or cousins) inheriting her and acting as a substitute levirate husband. The paper describes how levirate is an integral part of the Supyire institution of marriage, how it gives marriage permanence, supporting the social structure, linking descent groups, determining access to land and providing a milieu for socializing children. The thesis highlights the experiences that Supyire men and women relate of their experiences of levirate. Despite the often difficult and complex relationships which the Supyire system of levirate creates, it gives security to widows and their children, a permanent place in the deceased husband's patriclan and allows them continued access to farmland and thus to a livelihood.

In recent generations the custom has evolved in response to monetarization and growing population. External pressure is currently being brought to bear from both United Nations and churches to outlaw or abandon levirate throughout Mali as it is seen as an violation of a widow's freedom to choose whom to marry. This paper argues that rather than tarring all customs labelled levirate with the same brush, promotion of understanding of the custom, its benefits and difficulties and continued gradual adaptation, rather than abrupt abolition, is the most constructive way forward to give the best possibility for Supyire family life to flourish.