ABSTRACT
This study on Arochukwu women and societal change argues that Aro Women played a pivotal role in the infrastructural, economic, social and political transformation of Arochukwu, a society once dominated by men before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. The impact of the Nigerian Civil War in Arochukwu was severe. The town witnessed massive infrastructural decay and loss of human population mostly of the male population. This situation was also prevalent in other parts of Igboland. The study using a qualitative method, based on oral tradition, written sources and other available evidence, argues that even though Aro society is purely a patrilineal society, the impact of the Nigerian Civil War on Arochukwu brought a change in its societal and organizational structure to the degree that Aro women were repositioned from the subservient position they had occupied to a more complementary position with men. Suffice it to say that this resulted into a series of rapid transformation and a total restructuring of a society that was once bedeviled with loss of human population and infrastructural decay. Aro women did not only transform Arochukwu, they also controlled and dominated the economy - agriculture, commerce, traditional industries, health and education sectors, as well as setting the ethical and moral standard of the society. All these activities helped in the strengthening of inter group relations between the Aro and her Igbo and non-Igbo neigbours after the war.
This work also explored how Aro women wielded political power in Arochukwu, the kind of structures and agencies that enabled them accomplish all they did especially under Nzuko Inyom Aro. The study examined the various resistance and protests made by women in reaction to certain policies of the local and state governments. Profiles of some Aro women who played leading roles were reviewed as a result of the relevant contributions they made in thedevelopment of Aro society. The importance of this study lies in the fact that no academic study of Aro women had been undertaken.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
MAPS AND ILLUSTRATION
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Theoretical Framework
Literature Review
Scope of the Study
Significance of the Study
Method, Sources and Organisation of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
THE ARO SOCIETY UP TO 1970
Arochukwu before the Nigerian Civil War
Arochukwu Women before 1970
Presbyterian Women Training College Arochukwu
The Nigerian Civil War in Arochukwu
CHAPTER THREE
POST- CIVIL WAR ARO WOMEN AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Arochukwu Women and Community Development
Women’s Cooperative Society
Women’s Protest over Abia State College of Education Technical
Profiles of Some Arochukwu Women
CHAPTER FOUR
NZUKO AROCHUKWU WOMEN’S WING
Nzuko Arochukwu Women’s Wing
Women’s Annual Development Rally
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
BIBLOGRAPHY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Women’s history deals with the roles women have played in their societies and the effects which historical events have had on women. It focuses on women both as a group and as individuals, and understudies their economic, political, religious and social activities.1 Women are important to every society; they play vital roles in the society and are often regarded as the bedrock of the society.2 Therefore, their contributions to the society cannot be neglected or merely mentioned, but deserve adequate historical attention. Incidentally, in Africa, women have played significant roles in nation building, but this has not reflected in the number of studies on women.3 This also applies to Arochukwu women. Sometime in the past, according to Dike and Ekejiuba, Arochukwu had a female King, NneMgbokwoUdoOmiri,4 who ruled Arochukwu for a long time, presumably long before the British invasion of Arochukwu in 1902. Her role as EzeAro is yet to receive any academic attention. This is one evidence of the under-representation of women in history.
This study will focus on Arochukwu women of the Cross River Igbo area of Southeastern Nigeria. This distinct linguistic group is a part of the Igbo people who occupy the Eastern part of Nigeria, once known as Biafra. For close to a century, the literature on Arochukwu has grown rapidly, particularly her involvement in the slave trade, her use of the oracular services of the
Arochukwu is situated in Abia State. It is a community of more than 30,000 inhabitants,6and covers 250 square miles.7 It is positioned on the east bank of the Cross River.8It lies 74 kilometers through Bende and 102 kilometers through Uzuakoli, southeast of Umuahia, theAbia state capital.9 Arochukwu is bounded on the north by Ihechiowa and northeast by Ututu in Abia State, and on the east and south by the Ito of Cross River State, on the south and south-west by the Ikpanja, Iwerre and Makor of AkwaIbom State.10The soil is light and sandy and the whole area is well watered. There are outcrops of sand stones and laterite in the area, but these are of no commercial value. The southern part of the area is low-lying and swampy during the rainy season.11 The Aro people are generally referred to as the Cross River Igbo. This is because the community is located in a system of waterways and is enclosed by the Cross River and its tributaries.12 Arochukwu is made up of 19 villages namely Amannagwu, Agbagwu, Amuvi, Amasu, Atani, Amukwa, Asaga, Amankwu, Amangwu, Amoba, Ibom, Isimkpu, Oror, Obinkita,
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