Iyalode (title)

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Oloye
Alaba Lawson, the Ìyálóde of Yorubaland.

The Ìyálóde is a high-ranking female chieftain in most of the Yoruba traditional states. The title is currently within the gift of the obas, although Njoku asserted in 2002 that the process of choosing an Ìyálóde in pre-colonial Nigeria was less of a choice by the monarch, and more of the accomplishment and involvement of the woman to be so honoured in economic and political matters.[1]

History

Historically, therefore, the Ìyálóde did not only serve as a representative of women in the council, but also as a political and economic influencer in precolonial and colonial Nigeria.

Referred to in

Madam Tinubu, was one of the richest people in Yorubaland
, and served as a major player in who became king in both
Egbaland - where she contributed to the war effort of her fellow Egbas.[2]

Mosadomi opined that the influence of the Ìyálóde has never been limited to being just among the women, but transcends her official duties and includes the entire political, cultural and religious structure of the Yoruba people, citing Tinubu and

Lamidi Adeyemi, identified cultural extinction caused by "modernity" as reasons for the development. He recalled that women had more important roles in the leadership circle of Yorubaland in the past.[5] For example, Tinubu is reported to have wielded so much power that she stopped the Oba of Lagos
from making Lagos a British colony for a period.

See also

References

  1. ^ "WOMEN IN NIGERIAN HISTORY: AN EVALUATION OF THE PLACE OF, AND VALUES ACCORDED TO WOMEN IN NIGERIA" (PDF). Journal of Research in Arts and Social Science. June 1, 2014. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  2. ^ "FEMINISM AND THE CHANGE MANTRA IN AKINWUNMI ISOLA'S DRAMATIC TEXT OF MADAM EFUNROYE TINUBU: THE IYALODE EGBA" (PDF). A Journal of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA). Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  3. ^ "CHIEFTAINCY TITLES IN YORUBALAND AND THEIR IMPLICATION FOR GROWTH AND TOLERANCE AMONG CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS". LUMINA.
  4. ^ Mosadomi, Fehintola Aina (19 December 2010). "The Yoruba Iyalode". Jenda: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies (16). Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  5. ^ Okwuofu, Osheye (October 25, 2017). "Alaba Lawson: The making of Iyalode of Yoruba land". Retrieved 2018-08-03.