Prior to the Independence of Nigeria in 1960, the Eastern and Southern part of the present day Nigeria featured a socio-economic rebellion of women in thousands from different ethnic groups. The protest led to the death of 51 women and 1 man. This rebellion became what is known in the British Colonial History as the Abba Women Riot of 1929, and in Igbo History as the “Women’s War”.
ORIGIN OF THE FEMINIST PROTEST
The Aba women's riot did not happen spontaneously, but had months of tension leading to it
It was in January 1, 1914, when the first Nigerian colonial governor, Lord Frederick Lugard, instituted the system of indirect rule in Southern Nigeria. Indirect Rule is a system of administration used by the British colonial government to govern the natives through the use of traditional rulers and traditional political institutions. Under this plan, British administrators would rule locally through “warrant chiefs,” essentially Igbo individuals appointed by the governor. Traditionally Igbo chiefs has been elected. Originally, the Igbo's of the southern part of the present day Nigeria operate an egalitarian or acephalous political system. Hence, the ‘Eze system of warrant chiefs’ was not only strange to the people, it invalidates their traditional and political beliefs , rights and practice.
Within a few months of appointing the warrant chiefs, they became power drunk and very oppressive. The Warrant Chiefs seized property, imposed draconian local regulations, and began imprisoning anyone who openly criticized them. Although much of the anger was directed against the warrant chiefs, most of the people knew the source of their power ; British colonial administrators.
The Colonial administrators added to the local sense of grievance when they announced plans to impose special taxes on the Igbo market women. These women were responsible for supplying the food to the growing urban populations in Calabar, Owerri, and other Nigerian cities. They feared the taxes would drive many of the market women out of business and seriously disrupt the supply of food and non-perishable goods available to the populace.
In 1928, Direct taxation on men was introduced without any hitches. In 1929, Captain J. Cook, an assistant District Officer, found the slated nominal rolls for tax inadequate because they did not include details of the number of wives, children, and livestock in each household. He decided to revise the nominal roll to include these. A rumor at once spread among the women that the recently introduced taxation of men was to be extended to them.
THE RIOT
The riot started from a town called Oloko, in in the present day Owerri, Imo State where the warrant chief, Okugo, sent his representative Mark Emereuwa on the morning of 18 November 1929, to conduct the census for the tax. Emereuwa entered the compound of a widow named Nwanyereuwa, while she was processing palm fruit, and instructed her to "count her lives stocks and people living with her."
Knowing fully well that this means you will be taxed based on the number of the outcome, Nwanyereuwa became embittered; and in replying, she said, "was your widowed mother counted?"
This simply means that women were not supposed to pay tax in Igbo society. Anger was however expressed with exchange of words and ended with Nwanyereuwa pouring her palm oil on Emereuwa.
The widow proceeded to the town square to find other women who were already deliberating on the tax issue and explained to them her sad experience.
...to be continued
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