Laws of Inheritance in Aka tribe prescribes minimum right for the women in regards to inheriting paternal property. The law of inheritance prevails as a part of social convention. Immovable properties are inherited through the male line. Even the movable properties are often divided among the sons equally. A woman may receive some property when she leaves for her husband`s house post marriage or when the parental property is shared among the living members of the family after father`s death. These properties are personal properties of women during their life time. The movable properties that are presented to women are some valuable rings, lockets, beads, necklaces, brass plates and some domestic animals. Beside these the daughters do not have any right in the paternal property. However some times the father makes some arrangements to reserve some movable properties for physically handicapped or deserted daughters.
If the woman becomes a widow she has an official right over her husband`s property till she is alive as well as willing to stay in the same family. She acts as the custodian of the property and handover to her son on attaining maturity. If the mother is blessed only with a girl child then she would continue with her right over the property till her death or remarriage. Inheritance of widows by the brothers of the deceased is also a norm among the Akas.
The gifts presented to a bride during her marriage by her parents are for her personal use and under no circumstance it can be handed over can pass her property to her daughters. However in the absence of sons, the property could be inherited by husband`s brothers or nearest relatives. A widow is not allowed to exercise rights over her husband`s property if her marriage takes place with a man not related to her husband or she returns to her parent`s family or if she is convicted on charges of extra-marital affairs. She would be deprived of her official right over the property as well would have to pay back all the bride-price to her deceased husband`s relatives. Melley of Aka tribe may impose a fine on her. The bride price and the fine imposed on her are supposed to be paid by her new husband or her parents.
