RETHINKING THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN PRE-COLONIAL BENIN POLITICS

The exclusion of women in politics in colonial African societies was a general phenomenon. Women were seen but not heard, but a few ones who represented the women folks discharged their duties with distinction. This study argues that women played significant roles in the political affairs of pre-colonial Benin. It introduces the two female kings during the Ogiso dynasty in pre-colonial Benin and contends that even though their achievements were not recorded, the evidence of matriarchs in pre-colonial Benin shows that women were not unfree as it seemed. It explores the social status of women and how some rose to prominence not just as royal women like the queen mother (Idia), but also the ordinary Benin women who were not any way royalty also rose to prominence and formed political association that represented their interests. This once upon a preyed metamorphosed into a predator. Data was collected through primary and secondary sources that are critically analysed using historical narratives.