OR NGUHER GA, KA KASEV TSEGHER(NO BODY IS AT HOME, IT’S ONLY THE WOMEN): WOMAN IN THE EYES OF THE WOMAN IN TIV SOCIETY OF CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper “or nguher ga, ka ksaevtsegher”is motivated by the queer attitude of the female gender regarding their low self-perception in the Tiv society of Central Nigeria. The paper is qualitative and draws sources from documented library materials in its analysis. Information used in documenting the paper was drawn from the primary and secondary sources of data collection. In the primary source, information was gathered from oral interviews and observation methods. In the secondary sources, relevant data was collated from documented sources such as books, journal articles and electronic sources. The findings indicated that the female gender in Tiv society of central Nigeria like their sister African societies have a negative self-perception of themselves. This scenario explains why when a person comes into any Tiv compound and enquires of the occupants; the women are hasty to report that nobody (man/men) is at home except the women. The probable explanation for this strange outlook of the female gender on themselves could be attributed to the male folk who could have made the female gender believe albeit erroneously, that the female gender is nothing without the male folk. The paper noted that while the chauvinistic male-dominated African societies particularly the Tiv society cast aspersions and look down on women and the female gender generally; it would amount to self-crucifixion and or shooting oneself in the foot each time they make such obnoxious utterances of low self-esteem – “or nugher ga, ka kasevtsegher”, thus, affirming male dominance. The mere fact that the concept ‘or’ in Tiv refers to the human person – male or female without prejudice or bias; Tiv women and the female gender are encouraged to value themselves as human beings irrespective of what the males think.