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Igbo women: markets, power and the Women’s War of 1929
In November 1929, thousands of Igbo and Ibibio women “sat on” the warrant chiefs. The revolt reshaped British rule and became a founding story of African women’s politics.
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This chapter follows women across a century: from the market and the village assembly to the Women’s War of 1929 and the politics that came after. It draws on the chapters of Korieh (2009) by Afigbo, Oriji, Ekechi, Njoku and Chambers.
The sources are mostly colonial records and later oral history. Where numbers or interpretations differ, the pages say so.
In this chapter
01The Women’s War of 1929
A head count, a palm leaf and thousands of women: the revolt of 1929.
3 min read →
02Before 1929: women who defended custom
Odesoruelu in 1864, the Dancing Women of 1925 and the defence of custom.
2 min read →
03Heroines of the movement
Nwanyeruwa, Ihejilemebi, Ahebi Ugabe, Mary Okezie and others.
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04After 1929: courts, taxes and politics
Women in the courts, the oil-mill protests and politics.
2 min read →
05Flexible gender: male daughters and female husbands
Male daughters, female husbands and what the word “patriarchy” misses.
2 min read →