The Female King of Colonial Nigeria: Ahebi Ugbabe PDF
Preview The Female King of Colonial Nigeria: Ahebi Ugbabe
A c h e nwAndo Achebe b e Biography | africa C C C t An Igbo woman becomes king at a time of h extraordinary change in Africa e f e “This important, but neglected, story of Nigeria’s only female warrant chief m is thoroughly grounded in local meanings and local categories, yet speaks a to some of the most important concerns in comparative women’s history: from slavery and freedom, to sexuality, power, and spirituality.” l e —JeaN allmaN, Washington University of St. louis k i n “an unusual biography and a compelling tale about the life of an extraordinary woman.” g —STephaN F. mieSCher, o University of California, Santa Barbara f c Nwando achebe presents the fascinating history of an igbo woman, ahebi Ugbabe, who o became king in colonial Nigeria. Ugbabe was exiled from igboland, became a prostitute, traveled widely, and learned to speak many languages. She became a close companion of l o Nigerian igala kings and the British officers who supported her claim to the office of head- man, warrant chief, and, later, king. in this unique biography, achebe traces the roots of n Ugbabe’s rise to fame and fortune. While providing critical perspectives on women, gender, i a sex and sexuality, and the colonial encounter, she also considers how it was possible for this woman to take on the office and responsibilities of a traditionally male role. l n NWaNdo aCheBe is professor of history at michigan State University. She is author of i Farmers, Traders, Warriors, and Kings: Female Power and Authority in Northern Igboland, g 1900–1960. e the female king r i a of colonial nigeria C Ahebi UgbAbe D INDIANA I N University Press D Cover illustration by I Bloomington & Indianapolis A Jane Nwakoby N iupress.indiana.edu A 1-800-842-6796 The Female King oF Colonial nigeria ACHEBE_pages.indd 1 12/20/10 1:30:31 PM ACHEBE_pages.indd 2 12/20/10 1:30:31 PM The Female King oF Colonial nigeria C Ahebi UgbAbe D Nwando Achebe Indiana University Press Bloomington and Indianapolis ACHEBE_pages.indd 3 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM This book is a publication of Indiana University Press 601 North Morton Street Bloomington, Indiana 47404-3797 USA www.iupress.indiana.edu Telephone orders 800-842-6796 Fax orders 812-855-7931 Orders by e-mail [email protected] © 2011 by Nwando Achebe All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, elec- tronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses’ Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition. • The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Achebe, Nwando, [date]– The female king of colonial Nigeria : Ahebi Ugbabe / Nwando Achebe. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-253-35538-6 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-253-22248-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Ugbabe, Ahebi. 2. Women, Igbo—Biography. 3. Sex role— Nigeria. 4. Igbo (African people)—Kings and rulers—Biography. 5. Nigeria— Kings and rulers—Biography. 6. Nigeria—History—1851–1899. 7. Nigeria— History—1900–1960. I. Title. DT515.77.U43A65 2010 966.9'403092—dc22 [B] 2010022842 1 2 3 4 5 16 15 14 13 12 11 ACHEBE_pages.indd 4 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM In memory of Professor A. E. Afigbo and for My friend and guide, Mr. Erobike Eze ACHEBE_pages.indd 5 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM The tortoise on setting out for a long journey said to his people: if usual things happen, do not send for me; if the unheard of happens, call me. —Igbo proverb ACHEBE_pages.indd 6 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM Contents Ekene / Acknowledgments ix Nkwado / The Preparation: All Trees Grow in the Forest, but the Ora Singled Itself Out 1 Nkowa / The Introduction: Unspoken, Blame the Mouth; Unheard, Blame the Ear 19 one Oge Nwatakili: The Time of Childhood, ca. 1880–1895 37 two Mgbapu Ahebi: Exile in Igalaland, ca. 1895–1916 62 three Performing Masculinities: Homecoming—and She Becomes a Man, ca. 1916–1930 97 four Inside King Ahebi’s Palace, ca. 1916–1948 136 five Mastering Masculinities: Ekpe Ahebi Masquerade—the Final Insult, ca. 1931–1948 172 Mmechi / The Conclusion: Ahebi Today—the Works That We Do Are the Things by Which We Are Remembered 199 Appendix: Select Criminal and Civil Cases in Nsukka Division, in which Ahebi Participated 1918–1930 209 Glossary of Chronological Terms 219 Glossary of Igbo and Igala Words 221 Notes 225 Bibliography 277 Index 297 ACHEBE_pages.indd 7 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM ACHEBE_pages.indd 8 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM EkEnE / ACknowledgments The Igbo have a saying that coming and going keeps the road from getting cold. Like that insightful proverb, my journey into research- ing and writing King Ahebi’s world has required several comings and goings to navigate and complete. I owe a debt of gratitude to my family, friends, and colleagues who have all in one way or the other supported and nurtured my journey. I am particularly grateful to the late Professor Boniface Obichere, under whose guidance I first discovered Ahebi. I have also benefited from the unflagging encouragement and unwavering support of the late Professor A. E. Afigbo, to whose Nigerian residence I first pilgrimaged in the summer of 1995 and subsequently every sum- mer starting in 2006—all in an attempt to learn from a true master and live up to that perceptive Igbo adage that proclaims that a child who stays near an adult does not chew pepper but rather chews kola nut. Professor Afigbo, thank you so very much for your intellectual support of me. I will forever treasure our conversations and your kind words and e-mail communications.1 This book is dedicated to you. This book is as much for my friend and guide, Mr. Erobike Eze, who twice dropped everything to accompany me into the research field, and without whose assistance and support this study could never have been completed. Mr. Eze, words are not enough to thank you for your commitment to this project. This book is also dedicated to you. Funding for my research came from several sources and funding agen- cies. I thrice received the Sesquicentennial Research Fund for Historical Research and Publication of the history department at Michigan State University (MSU). Collection of source materials was further facilitated by MSU’s Special Foreign Travel Fund and the Summer Research Fellowship of MSU’s International Studies and Programs. I also received MSU’s Intramural Research Grant Program award, which bought me a semester with no teaching, and the Wenner-Gren Postgraduate Fellowship, which allowed me to dedicate an entire academic year to writing. Without this support, I would never have been able to put Ahebi’s story into writing. Likewise, this study could not have been completed without the support of Mark Kornbluh, the former chair of the history department, who approved the financial support from my department and accommodated my request for time away from teaching when I received external awards. Special mention must also go to my present acting chair, Keely Stauter- Halsted, who has seen to the continued support of my project by provid- ing funds for an indexer. ACHEBE_pages.indd 9 12/20/10 1:30:32 PM
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