Background: The British Colonial System

  1. Indirect Rule: The British colonial government relied on "warrant chiefs," individuals appointed to serve as local administrators in regions like Igboland, where traditional governance was more decentralized and communal.
    • This disrupted Igbo society, which had historically relied on collective leadership and decision-making.
  2. Taxation: In 1928, the British introduced direct taxation on men in southern Nigeria, which caused significant economic hardship.
  3. Extension to Women: In late 1929, there were rumors that the British planned to impose taxes on women, who were traditionally not taxed and already burdened with economic and household responsibilities.

The Immediate Cause

  • A warrant chief in Oloko (now Abia State), Mark Emereuwa, attempted to conduct a census of women, likely to assess their wealth for taxation purposes.
  • This action confirmed fears of an impending tax and triggered outrage among the women, who saw it as an affront to their dignity and a threat to their livelihoods.
  • Aba-Womens-Riots-of-1929-

The Protests and Riots

  1. Mass Mobilization:
    • Igbo women employed a traditional form of protest called "sitting on a man" or "making war on a man."
    • Thousands of women from various ethnic groups, including the Ibibio and Andoni, organized through networks of market women and kinship ties.
  2. Tactics:
    • The women "sat on" warrant chiefs by surrounding their homes, dancing, singing, and mocking them.
    • They destroyed colonial infrastructure such as native courts and European-owned stores.
    • Protests were non-violent initially but escalated as the colonial government responded harshly.
  3. Scale:
    • The protests spread across over six towns and involved more than 25,000 women.Colonial Response
  1. Military Action:
    • The British used soldiers and police to suppress the protests.
    • This led to violent clashes, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 women and injuries to many others.
  2. Suppression and Arrests:
    • Hundreds of women were arrested, and the movement was violently crushed by the colonial authorities.

Consequences

  1. Immediate Outcomes:
    • The planned taxation of women was abandoned.
    • Some warrant chiefs were removed, and the colonial administration reassessed its policies toward indirect rule in Igboland.
  2. Long-Term Impact:
    • The Women's War demonstrated the power of collective action and exposed the flaws in the colonial system of governance.
    • It inspired future anti-colonial movements in Nigeria and across Africa.
  3. Legacy:
    • The Women's War is celebrated as a landmark in Nigeria's history, symbolizing resistance to oppression and the active role of women in the struggle for justice.