Madame Nwanyeruwa is an Igbo woman who worked in the market place of the Oloko village of Nigeria. Nwanyeruwa is known today as the woman who ignited the Women's War by encouraging peaceful protest against the British authority over the taxation system in 1929. The Women's War later led to the violent Aba's Women's Riots
Impact
Nwanyeruwa was soon known as "leader" of the women's group that revolted against British authority due to unfair use of the taxation system. Nwanyeruwa led peaceful protests and also testified against warrant Chief Okugo. During this time, her voice brought together local women to face inequality forced on them by British male authority. The uprising led by Nwanyeruwa, was named the "Women's War".
Origin
Although unknown, it is speculated that Nwanyeruwa originated from Igboland which covers most of Southeast Nigeria. Nwanyeruwa then traveled to Oloko to protest against the Warrant Chiefs. Oloko is one of the four communities that make up the Ikwuano local government.
Background
Nwanyeruwa was a woman of the Oloko tribe in Nigeria. As the typical gender roles of the Igbo culture are reversed as opposed to western culture, Nwanyeruwa was essentially the so called "man of the house". With this however; Nwanyeruwa was approached by a man named Mark Emereuwa who was attempting to create a census for the warrant chiefs as well as the British so they could develop a tax system. This event was what caused Nwanyeruwa to become the vocal voice of the rebellion against the unfair taxation of the Igbo women, which was against their culture and had never been done before. Nwanyeruwa garnered the following of other Nigerian women with her challenging of the British who attempted to oppress the tribes across the country. With the events and peaceful protests that Nwanyeruwa led she became a very powerful voice as well as serving as a symbol of justice for women all across the world.
The Women's War
The Women's War, also known as the Aba Women's riots, were a revolt against the British oppressors while they occupied Nigeria. During this time, these riots were seen as the first challenge to British authority setting up many more groups and nations to challenge the rule of the British. The riots were a direct result of unfair rule of appointed warrant chiefs, these chiefs would rule with an iron fist by arresting anyone who decided to speak out against them as well as seizing land. The unfair rule eventually lead to the spark plug of these riots. As soon as the warrant chiefs decided to impose taxes on Igbo women, Nwanyeruwa decided to finally do something about it after a long period of harsh ruling. Nwanyeruwa first started her revolt by going tothe localtown square to spread her message while trying to rally other Igbo women to her cause. Eventually, Nwanyeruwa's cause spread about West Africa leading to a group of up to 10,000 women by her side fighting against the unfair taxation of the women in their society. One of the biggest goals for the women revolting was for the warrant chiefs to give up their power as they weren't ruling in the interest of the separate colonies but rather the British government that had control over them.
Nwanyeruwa's Legacy
Nwanyeruwa, along with other women of the Oloko village inspired women in other Nigerian villages to start movements as well. Nwanyeruwa's role in the Women's War was a catalyst for social and political change in African history, restoring Nigeria from the Western authoritarianism to its own Democratic system, in which women had a role. Although she is not entirely responsible, her story plays a part in changing the role of women in Africa from being submissive to men, to having political authority among men today.
