"Truth fighters with no vestments": religion, Fúnmiláyọ̀ Ransome-Kuti and women's resistance in Ẹ̀gbá land, 1930-1950
Date
2025
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This study examines the religio-historical dimension of Ẹ̀gbá women's resistance to colonialism from 1930 to 1950. Studies have considered the Ẹ̀gbá women's resistance led by Fúnmiláyọ̀ Ransome-Kuti. However, little consideration has been given to the religious dimension of the Ẹ̀gbá women’s resistance. Primary and secondary sources confirm that women were actively involved in Yorùbá public spaces during the pre-colonial period. However, during the colonial period, women were relegated, made passive, and unrepresented, and their welfare was neglected and oppressed by the colonizer and traditional ruler in Ẹ̀gbá land. This thesis employs Terence Ranger's theory of the invention of traditions to examine how colonial, exploitative, and rigid traditions were invented, the impact of these invented traditions on Ẹ̀gbá women, and Ẹ̀gbá women's resistance against the imposition of taxes and discrimination. Theory of African womanism by Chiwenye Okonjo Ogunyemi and concept of prophethood by Pious Abioje were also employed to argue that African Traditional Religion and culture were potent agencies in the Ẹ̀gbá women's resistance, and women were active agitators against colonialism in Nigeria. This study contributes to research on African Traditional Religion and women's roles in resisting colonialism.
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Keywords
Colonialism, Fúnmiláyọ̀, Invention of traditions, Resistance, Women