''THE ABA WOMEN RIOT"

I’m sure 90% of Africans, Nigerians and mainly people of Igbo origin who read the headline of this post will be like who the hell are these people?

Yes we wouldn’t know them because we’ve been busy learning about Mother Theresa and the fraudulent story of Mary Slessor.

About 93yrs ago, in the morning of November 18th 1929, a man called Emereuwa upon the directive of his boss Okugo the warrant chief in Aba District walked into the compound of a widow called Nwanyereuwa, ordered her for a census of all her livestock and household. The widow Nwanyereuwa knowing the census will determined how much she will be taxed by the British colonial government, embittered, shouted on Emereuwa “was your widowed mother at home counted?” An angry exchange ensued. Nwanyereuwa resentfully rushed down to the town and market square, consulted other disgruntled women, They with palm fronds quickly mobilised other women. And that marked the beginning of one of the greatest resistance, rebellion and uprising the British imperial colonial rule ever faced in Nigeria �� and Africa in general, Called “#The_Aba_Womens_Riot” otherwise known as "#The_women_who_went_to_war”

While the men were subdued, while the men died in the face of oppression and tyranny of colonialism. The women stepped up and in. Record has it that over ten thousand women were involved in this revolt, and about 50 women lost their lives in the war/riot. This resistance was orchestrated by ;
1) Persuasive #Ikonnia
2) Intelligent #Nwannedia
3) Passionate #Nwugo &
4) Wise, Counselling and strategic #Nwanyereuwa these were the women that led the Famous #Aba_Womens_Riot. Women from across Six ethnic groups were involved, the Igbos, Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni, Bonny and Opobo Hundreds of British colonial courts were burnt down and destroyed, hundreds of warrant chiefs were ostracised and banished. On the aftermath of the revolt, the British were forced to abandon the proposed plans to impose tax on the market women, powers of the warrant chiefs were considerably curbed and more robust room was created for women’s inclusiveness in the grand scheme of things.

The Aba women’s riot was on the scale never seen before. It prompted, encouraged and inspired subsequent agitations like;
1) The Tax protest of 1938
2) The Owerri & Calabar oil mill protest of the 1940s
3) The Onitsha Aba Tax revolt of 1956
Then consequently the Nigeria �� independence in 1960.

But unfortunately sad, when you drive through Aba today, you will see Faulks road, in owerri you will see Wetheral Road and Douglas road all of them are colonial relics. Imo state government house is called Douglas house, named after Harold Morday Douglas, a brutal British colonial district commissioner who orchestrated the Ahiara expedition of 1905 that saw villages wiped out.

Today one deranged former governor of Imo State is busy moulding status of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia �� and Jacob Zuma of South Africa ��, that has no connection or historical relevance to the people of Imo State. We’ve seen streets, roads, government buildings and and schools named after strangers, monuments raised for people of little or no importance to our history and future. But the real heroes, heroins and legends have been relegated to obscurity, sent to oblivion in a complete sheer and crass negligence.
I hope that one day, the Igbos, Ibibios, Andonis, Ogonis, Opobos and Bonnis will have a leadership that will remember these women, the fifty that lost their lives and all that paid the ultimate price, immortalise them. I hope one day I shall see Nwanyereuwa road, Ikonnia hospital, Nwannedia secondary school and Nwugo shopping plaza. I hope to see us name our children after these legendary women and mothers and tell them the story.

Today 25th August 2022, I remember the women who didn’t only fight against an oppressive British colonial rule, but also had to fight their own men (Warrant chiefs) who chose the side of the Oppressor because of crumbs that fall from the table of masser.

Aba women’s riot, the women who went to war. We remember.'


Cc. Fynestboi's Richiez's

History

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Men were subdued by who?

Are you high on something?

You called his excellency "deranged" or you okay?

How old are you?

orble:
Men were subdued by who?

Are you high on something?

You called his excellency "deranged" or you okay?

How old are you?

You don't need to be unnecessarily confrontational about issues you do not fully grasp. If you understood Nigeria history and how the British subdued the locals during the colonial era you won't be challenging his assertions.

NWANYEREUWA: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE TACTICAL ABA WOMEN’S PROTEST

Ever heard of the Aba’s women’s Riot? Well, just like “the wives revolt”, when women decide to take action they do not go back on their word, the Aba women’s riot is an instance of this. There are actors to this riot and Nwayereuwa the brainbox behind the Aba women’s riot of 1929 is to be particularly remembered.

Nwayereuwa pursued with grace the interest of the women of the community. Spearheading this necessary and nonviolent riot through the cultural ‘sitting on a man’ tactics, by means of singing and dancing, ‘Yes’ singing and dancing like the Greek sirens to weaken and disarm their oppressors.

The struggle was ignited by the need to put an end to the abuse of the warrant chiefs, the tax system and the subjugation of women through this means. It was perhaps personal for her especially with the question she directs at Emereuwa [who came to tax her according to the British authority], “was your mother counted?”

Nwayereuwa had allies who helped strengthen the colonial resistance and these ladies are called the Oloko trios (Ikonnia, Nwannedie, Nwugo) – leaders of the ogu umunwanyi- when the protest first began at Oloko in Aba.

The Oloko trios bravely took to a protest demanding what rightfully should be, as it threatened to thwart the norms and traditions of the Igbo system. The taxation system was to be implemented thus the headcount to determine the tax to be paid by each household causing an uprising which spread to other regions affecting the Calabar, Ogoni, and Opobo women.

During this uprising, it is believed that over 25,000 women faced cruelty that had at the least over 50 women killed despite that they did not seriously harm anyone during the riot. Also, Okugo the warrant chief in charge of the Oloko district was sentenced to jail and women were put in to serve at court.
Locally called The Women’s War, the British labelled it the “Aba’s Riot” to silence the role of women and change the narrative.

The Aba riot, the women’s war, ogu umunwanyi whichever appeals to you, is not just any war, but it is the first historical public display of feminism in Nigeria. It is consequently a pivotal deed in the history of Nigerians most importantly, in the history of Nigerian women. It is the hallmark of the feminist struggle in Nigeria, possibly West Africa.

Affirmatively they not only spoke for women but for men too who were undergoing poverty due to the tax system because as women they nurture the earth and everyman great and small are born of a woman.

The Aba women’s protest was one of struggle, a demonstration which not only put women in the limelight but also elevated their status of being functional not only in the home frontiers but also as master strategists in moments of revolution, it was an epitome that women can do more than society has relegated them.

It would also be a source of inspiration for Ben N. Azikiwe (later known as Nnamdi Azikiwe)’s letter titled “Murdering Women in Nigeria” in The Crisis in 1930 about the “recent massacre of Opobo women by British commanded soldiers.” Again, as president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe proposed a tax system for the men, where women intercepted and matched up to his office in Enugu at which a compromise was made and the talk of taxing was put to rest.
Consequently, the protest is remembered for resisting colonialism and acts as the pointer to the beginning of feminism.

Having affected so many lives and leaving an impact on all. Margret Ekpo was left with a great impression from the women’s war, being only 15 at the time and when older she formed the Aba market association in 1946, which was the point of politics for her. At the time, the market was the home of the Igbo woman a place outside the home where she took charge.

Already dealing with the poverty of their husbands and sons were subjected to due to the imposed tax system, the news of women to be added to the chain was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Unfortunately, one whose name will be forgotten by the history books is Princess Princess Nnete Okorie-Egbe of Akwete, the inspiration behind the Aba women protest.

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9Pluto:


You don't need to be unnecessarily confrontational about issues you do not fully grasp. If you understood Nigeria history and how the British subdued the locals during the colonial era you won't be challenging his assertions.

Some of the new Generation children have this tendency to question historical events as if their opinions can change history.

There's a reason why it is called aba women riot and not Men riot.

The men fought their wars and they lost. Defeated and disgraced they had no fight in them anymore nor do they desire for it.

They don't teach history in schools. That is one of the major problem.

Kudos to the brave women. An injury to one is an injury to all. They made sure of that.

sapeleboi:
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