Women's War

Long ago in Nigeria, many women stood up for their rights. They were worried about new rules and taxes. A woman named Nwanyeruwa helped start the protests. Many women joined her to be heard.

These women used a special way to protest. They would sit near men to show they were unhappy. They also sang and danced together. This was a way to make their voices loud.

Some things became very sad during this time. Some women were hurt by soldiers. But the women did not give up.

Their hard work changed the rules. The leaders stopped using old ways to rule. They even let women help in the courts. The women helped make things better for others.

In 1929, many women in Nigeria led a big protest. They were upset about new rules from the British government. These rules included new taxes. The women also did not like the Warrant Chiefs. These were local men chosen by the British to lead. These men were not part of the old Igbo traditions.

A woman named Nwanyeruwa helped start the movement. She had a dispute with a man about counting her animals. She feared this meant new taxes for women. Thousands of women joined her to protest. They used a way called "sitting on a man." This meant they would surround a person to show they were unhappy. They sang and danced to make their voices heard.

Some parts of the protest were very difficult. Many women were killed by colonial troops. However, the women's actions led to real change. In 1930, the government stopped using the Warrant Chiefs. They also let women join the Native Court system. A teacher named Mary Okezie helped by writing about the women's needs. Her work helped support women's rights for a long time.

In 1929, a major protest known as the Women's War broke out in Nigeria. This movement involved women from six different ethnic groups. These included the Igbo, Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni, Efik, and Ijaw people. The women were upset about how the British colonial government ruled. They specifically disliked the Warrant Chiefs. These were local men chosen by the British to act as leaders. This system was not part of traditional Igbo ways. The women felt these men restricted their role in government.

The trouble began because of new tax rules. In 1927, the government passed a law about revenue. By 1928, men began paying direct taxes. In September 1929, an official named Captain J. Cook arrived in the Bende division. He wanted to update the lists used for taxation. He wanted to count wives, children, and livestock in every home. The women feared this meant they would have to pay taxes too. They did not want their property valued for taxes. This created a big conflict between the women and the officials.

A woman named Nwanyeruwa helped spark the actual revolt. In November 1929, a man named Mark Emereuwa tried to count her goats and sheep. Nwanyeruwa asked if his own mother had been counted. In her tradition, women did not pay taxes. The two had an angry argument. Emereuwa grabbed her by the throat during the fight. Nwanyeruwa went to the town square to tell other women. Soon, nearly 10,000 women gathered to protest. Three women called the Oloko Trio led much of the group. They were Ikonnia, Nwannedia, and Nwugo.

The women used a special way to protest called "sitting on a man." They would surround a person's home to show they were unhappy. They sang, danced, and made a lot of noise. Sometimes they would even damage the buildings of those they protested against. The protests spread across 6,000 square miles. Sadly, the situation became very serious. About 55 women were killed by colonial troops. Many Native Courts were also attacked or destroyed.

The Women's War led to important changes in Nigeria. In 1930, the government held the Aba Commission of Inquiry. A teacher named Mary Okezie was the only woman to submit a written memo. The commission found that the Warrant Chief system should end. In 1930, the government abolished the chiefs. They also allowed women to join the Native Court system. These changes helped women have a voice in their government. This event is seen as an early step toward African nationalism.

The Women's War, known in Igbo as Ogu Umunwanyi, was a massive period of unrest in colonial Nigeria. It took place during November 1929. This movement was a major revolt by women in West Africa. It involved many different people from six ethnic groups. These groups included the Igbo, Ibibio, Andoni, Ogoni, Efik, and Ijaw. The protest was organized and led by rural women from the Owerri and Calabar provinces.

The conflict grew from how the British colonial government managed local leadership. The British used a system of Warrant Chiefs to rule. These were local men appointed to serve as administrative representatives. This system had no precedent in Igbo tradition. The women accused these chiefs of restricting the role of women in government. They felt the new system removed their traditional influence.

A major cause of the unrest was the introduction of direct taxation. In April 1927, the colonial government enforced the Native Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance. This was meant to prepare the ground for direct taxes. In 1928, direct taxation was introduced for men. In September 1929, Captain J. Cook arrived to take over the Bende division. He began revising the nominal rolls used for taxation. He wanted to include details like the number of wives, children, and livestock. The women feared this meant they would soon be taxed too. They also did not want their property appraised for tax purposes.

The actual revolt was sparked by a dispute in the town of Oloko. On November 18, 1929, a woman named Nwanyeruwa had an argument with a man named Mark Emereuwa. Emereuwa was helping to make a census of the people. He told Nwanyeruwa to count her goats and sheep. She understood this as preparation for taxation. She asked if his widowed mother had been counted. This invoked the Igbo tradition that women do not pay tax. Emereuwa grabbed her by the throat during the argument.

Nwanyeruwa went to the town square to tell other women about the incident. The women sent palm-oil leaves to summon others from the Bende District, Umuahia, and Ngwa. Nearly 10,000 women gathered to protest. Three women known as the Oloko Trio led the group. Their names were Ikonnia, Nwannedia, and Nwugo. They were known for their intelligence and passion. They often helped de-escalate tense situations to prevent violence. The women used a traditional tactic called "sitting on a man."

"Sitting on a man" was a long-held method of expressing disapproval. Women would surround a man's home or office. They would sing and dance to detail their grievances. They would follow the Warrant Chiefs everywhere to force them to listen. Sometimes, women would also damage a person's prized possessions or huts. As the revolt spread, some women also rioted. They attacked the homes of chiefs and destroyed 16 Native Courts. The movement eventually covered 6,000 square miles. This area was home to roughly two million people.

The colonial response was very decisive and led to loss of life. Colonial troops were sent to restore order. By the time the unrest ended, approximately 55 women had been killed. The British also carried out more than 30 punishment inquiries across the region. To investigate the causes, the government established the Aba Commission of Inquiry in 1930. The commission held public sittings for 38 days. They interviewed 485 witnesses. Only about 103 of these witnesses were women.

Significant changes happened because of the protest. A teacher named Mary Okezie was the only woman to submit a written memo to the commission. She later founded the Ngwa Women's Association to support women's rights. The commission's report led to major administrative reforms. The British abolished the Warrant Chief system. They replaced it with court tribunals that used local forms of governance. For the first time, women were appointed to the Native Court system.

The Women's War was a turning point in British colonial policy. It is seen as a prelude to the rise of mass African nationalism. The women successfully used traditional networking to challenge the colonial administration. Their actions changed how the government interacted with the people in southeastern Nigeria. This event remains a central part of the history of women's political activity in Nigeria.