1 - Women and Urban Experience in Colonial Lagos
Corresponding Author(s) : Monsuru Muritala
Afrika Zamani,
No. 22-23 (2015): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
The social and economic history of Lagos cannot be written without reference to the activities of women as individuals or as a group. From the pre-colonial period, women played significant roles in the economic and social activities of the city. At the beginning of colonialism, their activities extended beyond the social and economic realms into political activism and partisan politics. This article examines the experiences of women in the wake of the modernization and urbanization policies of the British in colonial Lagos, especially from 1900 to the end of the World War II. The article extensively utilizes both primary and secondary sources. It concludes that though women in Lagos were industrious, their contact with Europeans further transformed their traditional roles politically, socially and economically.
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- Adams, J.B., 1823, Special Remarks on the Colony Extending from Lake Palmers to River Congo, London.
- Akinwumi, T., Adeboye, A.A. and Otusanya, T.,2011, Rabi ‘Alaso oke’ of Colonial Lagos: a female textile merchant encapsulated in a Yoruba proverb, Vol. 8, No. 1, winter, Mpublishing, University of Michigan Library.
- Awe, B., 1977, ""The Iyalode in Traditional Yoruba Political System"" in Sexual Stratification: A Cross-Cultural View, ed. Alice Schigel, New Haven: Yale University.
- Barnes, S.T., 1990, ‘Ritual, power and outside knowledge’, Journal of Religion in Africa 20 (3): 248–68.
- Biobaku, S.O., 1966, The Egba and their Neighbours, 1872-1882, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Cole, P., 1975, Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Coleman, J.S., 1958, Nigeria: background to nationalism, Berkeley: University Press.
- Coquery-Vidrovitch, C., 1997, African Women: a modern history, trans. Beth Gillian Raps, Boulder CO: Westview Press.
- Denzer, L., 1994, ‘Yoruba women: a historiographical study’, International Journal of African Historical Studies 27 (1): 1–39.
- Etienne, M. and Leacock, E., eds, 1980, Women and Colonization: anthropological perspectives, New York: Praeger.
- Fadipe, N.A., 1970, The Sociology of the Yoruba, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
- George, A.A., 2007, ‘Feminist activism and class politics: the example of the Lagos girl hawker Project’, Women’s Studies Quarterly 35 (3/4): 128.
- Interview held with Alhaja Raji Risikat, Seamstress for 63 years at no. 1 Church Street, Lagos Island, 26 May 2011.
- Jacobs, J., 1997, Market Woman of Substance: a biography of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji- President General of Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, Lagos: Mercantile Press Associates.
- Johnson, C., 1981, ‘Madam Alimotu Pelewura and the Lagos Market Women’: grass roots leadership in colonial West Africa, Tarikh 7.
- Johnson, C., 1982, ‘Grassroots organizing: women in anti-colonial activity in southwestern Nigeria’, African Studies Review 25 (2/3): 137–157.
- Lawal, O.,1991, ""Mahin and Early Lagos,"" Odu: Journal of West African History [New Series], No. 38, Jan-July: 98-111.
- Lawal, O., ed., 2004, ""Back to Urbanization Lagos Society Before 1800,"" in Urban Transition in Africa: aspect of urbanisation and change in Lagos, Ed. O. Lawal. Lagos: Longman.
- Lindsay, L.A, 1999, ‘Domesticity and difference: male breadwinners, working women and colonial citizenship in the 1945 Nigerian strike’, American Historical Review 104 (3): 783–812.
- Losi, J. B., 1921, The History of Lagos, Lagos: CMS.
- Ma n, K., 2007, Slavery and the Birth of an African City: Lagos, 1760–1900, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
- NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, vol 1, ‘Memorandum from Medical Officer of Health to the Secretary, Town Council, Lagos’, Market and Street Trading in Lagos, 31 March 1932.
- NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, vol.1, ‘Correspondence from Holley, A.G (Town Engineer) to the Secretary, Town Council, Lagos’, 31 March 1932.
- NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, Reports from a survey carried out by the Town Council on some major streets in Lagos.
- NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, a copy of the press release on Market and Street Trading in Lagos issued by the President, Lagos Town Council to the editors of the Daily Times, Daily News and Daily Telegraph, 1936.
- NAI, Comcol 1, vol. 1, Correspondence from Administrator of the Colony to Chief Secretary to Government, 12 April 1932.
- NAI, Comcol 1, file 498, Lagos Women’s League letter to the Chief Secretary to Government on the need to provide employment for women in the colony, 26 February 1924.
- NAI, CSO file no 43222, Correspondence from the Secretary NWP to Commissioner of the Colony.
- NAI, CSO/26/28322/s.887 ‘Union of Lagos Colony Fishermen to Chief Secretary of the Federation’.
- Ogunsheye, F., 1960, ‘The women of Nigeria’, Presence Africaine 32/33 June–Sept: 1211–38.
- Olusanya, G.O., 1992, ‘Charlotte Olajumoke Obasa’, in Awe. B., ed., Nigerian Women in Historical Perspective, Ibadan: Bookcraft.
- Okonkwo, R., 2011, Protest Movements in Lagos, 1908-1930, Enugu: ABIC Books.
- Olutayo, A.O., 1994, ‘Systemic source of ""working children"" in Africa: the case of Nigeria’, Childhood 4: 210.
- Oyinkan Abayomi’s address to the educated women in Lagos, Herbert Macaulay Papers, Box 73, files 7, Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan.
- Oyemakinde, W., 1973, ‘The Pullen Marketing Scheme: a trial in food price control in Nigeria, 1941-1947’, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria 6.
- Population Census of Lagos, Nigerian Department of Statistics, 1951, Nigeria: Government Printer.
References
Adams, J.B., 1823, Special Remarks on the Colony Extending from Lake Palmers to River Congo, London.
Akinwumi, T., Adeboye, A.A. and Otusanya, T.,2011, Rabi ‘Alaso oke’ of Colonial Lagos: a female textile merchant encapsulated in a Yoruba proverb, Vol. 8, No. 1, winter, Mpublishing, University of Michigan Library.
Awe, B., 1977, ""The Iyalode in Traditional Yoruba Political System"" in Sexual Stratification: A Cross-Cultural View, ed. Alice Schigel, New Haven: Yale University.
Barnes, S.T., 1990, ‘Ritual, power and outside knowledge’, Journal of Religion in Africa 20 (3): 248–68.
Biobaku, S.O., 1966, The Egba and their Neighbours, 1872-1882, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cole, P., 1975, Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Coleman, J.S., 1958, Nigeria: background to nationalism, Berkeley: University Press.
Coquery-Vidrovitch, C., 1997, African Women: a modern history, trans. Beth Gillian Raps, Boulder CO: Westview Press.
Denzer, L., 1994, ‘Yoruba women: a historiographical study’, International Journal of African Historical Studies 27 (1): 1–39.
Etienne, M. and Leacock, E., eds, 1980, Women and Colonization: anthropological perspectives, New York: Praeger.
Fadipe, N.A., 1970, The Sociology of the Yoruba, Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
George, A.A., 2007, ‘Feminist activism and class politics: the example of the Lagos girl hawker Project’, Women’s Studies Quarterly 35 (3/4): 128.
Interview held with Alhaja Raji Risikat, Seamstress for 63 years at no. 1 Church Street, Lagos Island, 26 May 2011.
Jacobs, J., 1997, Market Woman of Substance: a biography of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji- President General of Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, Lagos: Mercantile Press Associates.
Johnson, C., 1981, ‘Madam Alimotu Pelewura and the Lagos Market Women’: grass roots leadership in colonial West Africa, Tarikh 7.
Johnson, C., 1982, ‘Grassroots organizing: women in anti-colonial activity in southwestern Nigeria’, African Studies Review 25 (2/3): 137–157.
Lawal, O.,1991, ""Mahin and Early Lagos,"" Odu: Journal of West African History [New Series], No. 38, Jan-July: 98-111.
Lawal, O., ed., 2004, ""Back to Urbanization Lagos Society Before 1800,"" in Urban Transition in Africa: aspect of urbanisation and change in Lagos, Ed. O. Lawal. Lagos: Longman.
Lindsay, L.A, 1999, ‘Domesticity and difference: male breadwinners, working women and colonial citizenship in the 1945 Nigerian strike’, American Historical Review 104 (3): 783–812.
Losi, J. B., 1921, The History of Lagos, Lagos: CMS.
Ma n, K., 2007, Slavery and the Birth of an African City: Lagos, 1760–1900, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, vol 1, ‘Memorandum from Medical Officer of Health to the Secretary, Town Council, Lagos’, Market and Street Trading in Lagos, 31 March 1932.
NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, vol.1, ‘Correspondence from Holley, A.G (Town Engineer) to the Secretary, Town Council, Lagos’, 31 March 1932.
NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, Reports from a survey carried out by the Town Council on some major streets in Lagos.
NAI, Comcol 1, file 1368, a copy of the press release on Market and Street Trading in Lagos issued by the President, Lagos Town Council to the editors of the Daily Times, Daily News and Daily Telegraph, 1936.
NAI, Comcol 1, vol. 1, Correspondence from Administrator of the Colony to Chief Secretary to Government, 12 April 1932.
NAI, Comcol 1, file 498, Lagos Women’s League letter to the Chief Secretary to Government on the need to provide employment for women in the colony, 26 February 1924.
NAI, CSO file no 43222, Correspondence from the Secretary NWP to Commissioner of the Colony.
NAI, CSO/26/28322/s.887 ‘Union of Lagos Colony Fishermen to Chief Secretary of the Federation’.
Ogunsheye, F., 1960, ‘The women of Nigeria’, Presence Africaine 32/33 June–Sept: 1211–38.
Olusanya, G.O., 1992, ‘Charlotte Olajumoke Obasa’, in Awe. B., ed., Nigerian Women in Historical Perspective, Ibadan: Bookcraft.
Okonkwo, R., 2011, Protest Movements in Lagos, 1908-1930, Enugu: ABIC Books.
Olutayo, A.O., 1994, ‘Systemic source of ""working children"" in Africa: the case of Nigeria’, Childhood 4: 210.
Oyinkan Abayomi’s address to the educated women in Lagos, Herbert Macaulay Papers, Box 73, files 7, Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan.
Oyemakinde, W., 1973, ‘The Pullen Marketing Scheme: a trial in food price control in Nigeria, 1941-1947’, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria 6.
Population Census of Lagos, Nigerian Department of Statistics, 1951, Nigeria: Government Printer.