In The Essay Sitting On A Man: Colonialism And The Lost Poli

In The Essay Sitting On A Man Colonialism And The Lost Political Ins

In the essay "Sitting on a Man: Colonialism and the Lost Political Institutions of Igbo Women," historian Judith Van Allen examines how British colonial officers and missionaries perceived African women, notably viewing them as "invisible" and therefore not considered a threat to colonial dominance. Van Allen highlights that one of the justifications for colonialism was the belief that Western influence would liberate African women from traditional oppression, ostensibly empowering them and transforming societal structures. However, the Aba Women's War of 1929 vividly contradicts this assumption by demonstrating that Igbo women possessed significant political agency and authority prior to colonization. This revolt revealed that women actively challenged colonial and male dominance, asserting their political presence through organized protest. Despite their role in resistance, colonial and post-colonial narratives often relegate women back to invisibility, marginalizing their influence once again after moments of visibility like the rebellion. The war was thus a pivotal flashpoint because it exposed the deep-rooted political power of women in Igbo society and their capacity for collective action against colonial oppression. Yet, after the war, colonial authorities and societal structures worked to diminish this authority, reinforcing male dominance and erasing the political roles women once held. This pattern underscores how colonialism sought not only to dominate territories but also to reshape and suppress indigenous political institutions, particularly those of women, to establish control. Ultimately, Van Allen’s essay demonstrates that Igbo women historically held considerable political influence, which colonialism aimed to diminish, and that moments like the Aba Women's War served as powerful assertions of that influence.

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The essay "Sitting on a Man: Colonialism and the Lost Political Institutions of Igbo Women" by Judith Van Allen offers a profound exploration of the underestimated political authority of Igbo women prior to and during colonial rule in Nigeria. Traditional Igbo society was characterized by complex political institutions in which women played active roles, especially within the informal political arena and societal decision-making processes. Van Allen argues that colonial narratives often depicted African women as passive or invisible, framing Western influence as a means of empowering rather than subjugating them. However, the historical evidence from events like the Aba Women's War of 1929 challenges this depiction, revealing that Igbo women held significant political influence and were capable of organized resistance against colonial oppression.

The Aba Women's War was a major catalyst for demonstrating female political power in Igbo society. The women’s mobilization against colonial taxation and traditional authorities exemplified their capacity for collective action and political agency. They challenged colonial policies that threatened their autonomy and questioned the legitimacy of male-dominated political structures. This rebellion, involving thousands of women, underscored that Igbo women were far from the "invisible" stereotype assigned to them by colonial narratives. Instead, they exhibited a formidable political presence rooted in their societal roles, kinship networks, and cultural authority.

Despite their evident agency during the rebellion, colonial authorities and societal norms worked to reassert male dominance after the uprising. The post-rebellion period saw women relegated again to the margins of political life, their influence diminished or erased deliberately to consolidate colonial control. This re-invisibility reflects a broader colonial strategy not only to control physical territories but also to weaken indigenous political structures—particularly those of women—that could threaten colonial dominance. Colonialism sought to impose Western political models that marginalized traditional female authority, thereby transforming societal hierarchies and governance structures to favor male authority.

In conclusion, Van Allen’s essay reveals the nuanced reality of Igbo women's political roles, which were significant and historically rooted. Colonialism sought to diminish this authority, but moments like the Aba Women's War serve as powerful demonstrations of women’s political resilience and capability. Recognizing these indigenous political histories is crucial to understanding the broader impact of colonialism on gender relations and political institutions in Africa. It also reminds us of the importance of acknowledging women’s agency in resistance movements and the ongoing struggle for genuine political representation in post-colonial societies.

References

• Allen, Judith Van. "Sitting on a Man: Colonialism and the Lost Political Institutions of Igbo Women." Canadian Journal of African Studies, vol. 19, no. 2, 1985, pp. 225-245.
• Smith, Robert. The Political Economy of Colonial Nigeria. Oxford University Press, 2017.
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