African feminism, activism and decolonisation: the case of Alimotu Pelewura

Abstract

ABSTRACT Consequent to colonial policies that restricted women’s participation in public space, the Nigerian woman of the colonial era experienced strenuous socio-political and economic marginalisation/oppression. This marginalisation spurred many of the affected women into acts of subtle and overt resistance. However, historical narratives have typically downplayed narratives portraying women’s agency as an integral and essential part of the anti-colonial resistance. Contemporary efforts at redressing this imbalance have resulted in the identification of women activists including Funmilayo (Ransome) Anikulapo-Kuti (FRK), Margaret Ekpo and Oyinka Abayomi to mention a few. Such efforts at identifying feminists and women activists have nevertheless significantly downplayed or outrightly ignored earlier generations of women activists whose successful activisms paved way for this group of identified activists. This study, therefore, sets out to interrogate the socio-economic and political philosophy of Alimotu Pelewura, an unlettered activist and the leader of the first mass-based women’s interest group in colonial South-west Nigeria. Utilising historical and analytical research methods, it presents an exposition of Pelewura’s economic, social and political activities and subjects such to critical analysis, with a final aim of distilling her socio-political and economic philosophies from these activities, thus, presenting Pelewura’s philosophy as an African feminist narrative towards decolonisation efforts.