The Aba Women Riot was significant in the history of Nigeria as it marked a turning point in the fight for independence, especially for women. The incident highlighted the oppressive nature of British colonialism and the need for a change in the political landscape.
The amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria on January 1, 1914, marked the beginning of British colonial rule in Nigeria.
Under the British colonial administration, a system of indirect rule was introduced, whereby the British would rule locally through appointed indigenes of the community known as “warrant chiefs.”
This meant that the British appointed people who would carry out their wishes, making them the real source of power in the communities.
As time went on, the appointed warrant chiefs became very oppressive, imposing harsh local regulations and imprisoning anyone who openly criticized them.
They seized properties unjustly and imposed harsh taxes on the people, causing widespread discontent among the local population. Everyone knew that the source of their power was the British colonial administrators.
The real problem began when the British administrators, through the warrant chiefs, decided to impose special taxes on the Igbo market women.
The riot started when Chief Okugo Oloko, a warrant chief appointed by the British, began to assess the taxable wealth of the inhabitants of the village, including women.
The women feared that this action was in preparation for taxing them, and this sparked a demonstration.
Women from Aba started the demonstration, and it soon spread throughout the East, with the women demanding an end to the warrant chief system, which they believed was oppressive.
The women demanded that the British replace the warrant chiefs with clan heads who would be appointed by the citizens of Igbo land.
The goal of the women was to have a system that would represent them and protect their interests. However, the British government responded with force to control the situation, leading to the death of hundreds of people.
These women, who were responsible for supplying food to the people in Calabar, Akwa Ibom, Owerri, and other Nigerian cities, were the backbone of the local economy.
There were growing fears that the taxes would drive many of the market women out of business and disrupt the supply of food to the growing population.
By November of 1929, thousands of women gathered at the native administration centers in Calabar, Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom, and Aba, chanting, singing, and marching in protest against the warrant chiefs and the taxes imposed on the market women.
The women, who were mostly uneducated, used traditional methods such as nakedness, songs, and dances, to express their grievances.
Not long after the protest started, there were reports of shootings in Ikot Abasi. This was when the protests became fiery, as the women began to attack native courts run by colonial officers and burnt them to the ground.
The women also attacked European-owned stores and banks, broke into prisons, and released prisoners.
The Aba women riot was so intense that the colonial troops and police were called to disperse the crowd. However, they fired into the crowd, killing over 50 women and wounding over 50 more.
The riots, which lasted for about two months, had over 25,000 women involved in protesting against the British officers.
It was also a precursor to the nationalist movement that led to the eventual independence of Nigeria from British rule.
The Aba Women Riot of 1929 was significant because it marked a turning point in the history of Nigeria and led to the downfall of the warrant chiefs’ system.
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It also showed that the women of Nigeria were capable of standing up for their rights, even in the face of the powerful British colonialists. The event remains a critical part of Nigeria’s history and a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice and equality.
Causes of the Aba women riot
- The introduction of taxation in the East: In pre-colonial Nigeria, the Igbo people did not have a tax system. However, in 1928, the British colonial masters introduced direct taxation for men in the area. This policy was a major trigger for the Aba women’s riot in 1929 as women believed that their husbands should not be taxed, and they felt that the tax policy was unjust.
- Appointment of Warrant Chiefs as tax collectors: In addition to the tax policy, the appointment of Warrant Chiefs to collect taxes was another significant factor that led to the women’s demonstration. The Warrant Chiefs were highly respected individuals who acted as intermediaries between the colonial masters and the local population. However, the women rejected these Chiefs due to their questionable family backgrounds and perceived unfavourable characters. They felt that the Chiefs were unjustly imposing taxes on the people and were serving the interests of the British colonial masters rather than the local community.
- Economic Depression in Trade: The Aba women riot of 1929 occurred during a time of economic hardship in the East. The collapse of the palm oil trade, one of the primary sources of income for the Igbo people, led to widespread poverty and suffering. While the British colonial masters saw the introduction of taxes as a way to generate revenue to run their administration, the women saw it as an additional hardship imposed on them, particularly given the already difficult economic conditions.
- Appointment of Warrant Chiefs: The appointment of Warrant Chiefs by the British colonial masters was one of the most significant factors that led to the Aba women riot. This system of governance was antithetical to the traditional Igbo political structure, which was democratic and acephalous. The Warrant Chiefs were appointed based on their family background, which was often questionable, and their characters, which the women did not accept. The Chiefs also had a reputation for being autocratic, tyrannical, and corrupt, further alienating them from the people they were supposed to serve.
- European Monopoly of Trade: The women who participated in the Aba women riot were also protesting against the monopoly of trade held by the Europeans. The European merchants were taking advantage of the people by collecting taxes and controlling the local markets. This was particularly challenging for women, who relied on petty trade for their livelihood. By protesting against the Europeans’ control over the markets, the women hoped to gain greater economic autonomy and financial independence.
- Fear of Taxation: The fear of being taxed was a significant concern for the women of the East. When Chief Okugo of Okolo started assessing the taxable wealth of the villagers, the women became fearful that they too would be subject to taxation, just like their husbands. They protested to the government, hoping that their demonstrations would persuade the colonial masters to abandon the policy before it was implemented.
- Decrease in Productivity: The Aba women riot also took place against the backdrop of a decrease in productivity in the East. The infertile land meant that there was a decrease in the production of food, which further compounded the economic difficulties faced by the people. Women had to make the government aware of these issues through demonstrations in the hopes of gaining some relief from the colonial administration.
Nwanyeruwa: The Woman Who Led the Aba Women riot
The introduction of a headcount to determine the tax amount that each household in Calabar, Ogoni, and Opobo had to pay led to a revolt by the women in these areas.
The women, who were already struggling with poverty and a forced taxation system, were enraged at the prospect of being added to the tax list.
For Nwayereuwa, the protest was personal, as she asked the tax collector if his mother had been counted. The Oloko trios (Ikonnia, Nwannedie, and Nwugo), leaders of the ogu umunwanyi, supported Nwayereuwa in the initial protest in Oloko in Aba.
The protest saw over 25,000 women subjected to cruelty, resulting in the deaths of over 50 women. The warrant chief of the Oloko district, Okugo, was sentenced to prison, and women were also imprisoned.
The British called it the “Aba Riot” to downplay the role of women and manipulate the narrative, but it was known locally as The Women’s War.
This was the first historical public display of feminism in Nigeria and a milestone in the feminist struggle not just in Nigeria but also West Africa.
The Aba women riot was more than just a struggle; it was a statement that elevated women as active participants in domestic affairs and master strategists in times of uprising.
It showed that women are capable of more than what society limits them to, and it served as the basis for Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s letter, “Murdering Women in Nigeria,” in The Crisis from 1930.
As the president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe proposed a tax system for men, but women intercepted and marched to his office in Enugu, resulting in a compromise that ended the discussion of taxing them.
The Women’s War also inspired Margret Ekpo, who formed the Aba market association in 1946. Unfortunately, Princess Nnete Okorie-Egbe of Akwete, the inspiration behind the Aba women’s protest, is a name forgotten by history.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Aba Women Riot of 1929 was a remarkable feminist movement that showcased the strength and courage of women in the face of oppression.
The protest started as a result of the planned imposition of taxes on market women and the appointment of warrant chiefs who acted as tyrants. The women who took part in the protest were from different parts of Eastern Nigeria, including Calabar, Ogoni, and Opobo.
Their demands were clear – they wanted the oppressive tax system to end and for their voices to be heard.
It was a long and difficult battle, but the women refused to back down. In the end, some of the warrant chiefs resigned, and the colonial authorities dropped their plans to impose taxes on the market women.
The Aba Women Riot can also be said to be a turning point for feminism in Nigeria and possibly West Africa.
It inspired many other women to speak up against oppression and demand their rights. The protest was a testament to the resilience and determination of women in the face of adversity.
Today, we remember and celebrate the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929 as a historic moment in the struggle for women’s rights and social justice in Nigeria.
The legacy of the protest lives on, and the courage of the women who participated in it will continue to inspire generations to come.
