Yoruba Women Research Articles

Gender Inequality: An Ethnolinguistic Analysis of Salon Conversation among Yoruba Women in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria

This paper interrogates women-talk in selected salons in parts of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Nigeria through the Ethnolinguistic framework to determine perspectives towards gender equity/inequality in a bid to propose way forward, and within the salon space and hair value. The research is largely quantitative and data collection on observatory participant basis. Secondary data on gender equity was also obtained through literature. True equity lies in achieving the intended societal impact of gender equity which is for the individual to be genuinely liberated and free to function optimally. The different postures and perspectives of the Yoruba woman present with issues in terms of gender equity and desires that should not be overlooked in the design of policies meant to liberate them within their respective contexts. Gender equity needs to be clearly defined within the context of peoples and their cultures.

Embracing and denouncing the ‘Mecca uniform’ in Nigerian mass media, 1950s–1970s

AbstractNigerian Muslims have undertaken the hajj for centuries. As Nigeria approached independence in the 1950s, Muslims began to discuss and debate this practice on a national scale, through Islamic associations and political committees and in the Nigerian press. At the same time, Muslim politicians began to publicly don the ‘Mecca uniform’, the white robe (thawb) and black cord (‘iqāl) common to Saudi Arabia. While Nigerian pilgrims had worn these garments for decades, their conspicuous adoption by the political elite was novel. This sartorial link between politicians and the East was amplified by photographs and commentary circulating nationally in the press, and generated a mix of admiration and concern. Christians (and some Muslims) questioned whether a secular state ought to oversee the hajj. Within roughly a decade, politicians ceased their official use of the Mecca uniform as the press became saturated with exaggerated stories of ‘corrupt’ pilgrims engaged in smuggling and other crimes. The proliferation of other mass media, such as radio and novels, contributed to this critique. This was not the end of the Mecca uniform’s public life, however, as others – such as Yoruba women in the south-west – continued to employ it in self-fashioned public images, including obituary notices. The transformation of the Mecca uniform into an object of national discourse engaging a range of Muslims and also Christians speaks to the complex dynamics shaping Islam in modern Nigeria.

Women and the Age-Group System among the Ijebu of Southwestern Nigeria

Contemporary studies have revealed that Yoruba women, particularly Ijebu women, have contributed to the development of Yorubaland. Apart from the traditional roles of women in Yorubaland, Ijebu women have cut a niche for themselves in the age-grouping system. It is the intent of this study to estab­lish the contributions of Ijebu women to the upliftment of their society and indeed of the Ijebu nation. This study therefore reveals that women in regberegbe (age group) organizations have contributed immensely to the development of Ijebuland. Just as men in age groups have benefitted, the women's age groups have also enjoyed government patronage, support, and interest. This was demonstrated when the Ogun State government offered employment to some of the age group members. The involvement of these women has shown that Ijebu women are active in the development of Ijebuland through the age-group system and this has further debunked the erroneous public opinion that Ijebu women are party-goers and docile. On the contrary, they are hard-working, so­cial, nationalistic, and community-development oriented.

Iyawo Ile as a Traditional Peacemaking Institution among the Yoruba Wives of Southwestern Nigeria

Yoruba women have always played a unique role in the reconciliation and peace process in the extended family in traditional society as a whole, and that this puts them in a strong position to encourage dialogue between disputing parties. However, much work still needs to be done in regard of the role of women as peacemakers in traditional family settings in Africa. This study appraises the Iyawo Ile traditional institution in Yoruba as the transmitters of peace values through the use of diplomatic measures such as secrecy, negotiation and respect for the elders.

Arts of Global Africa

Arts of Global Africa

Towards the development of a community-based model for promoting cervical cancer prevention among Yoruba women in Ibadan Nigeria: application of PEN-3 model

Objective: Through the identification of the barriers to the uptake of prevention services for cervical cancer and ways to promote prevention of cervical cancer in the community, this research stud...

Ethnic disparities in fertility and its determinants in Nigeria

BackgroundHigh fertility rate has been consistently reported in Nigeria. The three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba have different socio-cultural identities particularly those that relate to fertility but fertility index is often reported at the national level. This paper examined ethnic differences in fertility and identified its determinants in Nigeria.MethodThis cross-sectional design study focused on 23,140 women aged 15–49 years. Fertility was measured from information on the full birth history of women of reproductive age. Fertility was assessed using descriptive statistics, parity progression ratio(PPR) and negative binomial model (α = 0.05).ResultsThe total fertility rate was 8.02, 4.91 and 4.43 among women in Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic group respectively. The proportion of women with ≥5 children was highest among the Hausa/Fulani (40%), followed by Igbo (21.6%) and Yoruba (17.5%). For women aged 45–49 years; the PPR was highest among Hausa/Fulani while Igbo and Yoruba exhibited a similar pattern. The mean fertility was 1.725(C.I = 1.661–1.792, p < 0.001) times higher among Hausa/Fulani than Yoruba women, but Igbo and Yoruba women exhibited a similar pattern. Controlling for other factors barely changes this pattern.ConclusionVariation existed in fertility across the main ethnic groups in Nigeria, but highest among Hausa/Fulani. Fertility reduction strategies that target improvement in women’s education will reduce the fertility rate in Nigeria, particularly among Hausa/Fulani women. Ethnicity is important in fertility reduction strategies in Nigeria.

“The night comes early for a woman”: Menopause and sexual activities among urban older Yoruba men and women in Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This article explores older peoples’ perceptions of menopause and sexuality in old age. The research was exploratory, consisting of 12 vignette-based focus group discussions and 18 face-to-face semistructured interviews among older Yoruba men and women (60+). Findings revealed menopause as a biopsychosocial marker of aging that provides gendered spaces for women to abstain from or suppress their sexual desires and avoid a folk pregnancy- oyun iju(folk fibroid). Older men construe menopause and sexual refusals from their wives as opportunities for extramarital relations. Thus, both older men and women have differentiated perceptions and dispositions toward menopause, which have implications for their sexual health and well-being.

Fetal Kidney Length as an Independent Estimator of Gestational Age: A Cohort Study of a Population of Yoruba Women in Lagos Nigeria

Background: Fetal kidney length (FKL) can be used to estimate gestational age (GA) yet there is a paucity of data on its precision. Aim: To determine the precision and usefulness of FKL as GA predictor. Methods: In the prospective study, sonographically measured FKL was used to estimate GA while its standard error as GA estimator was calculated. Result: The rate of kidney growth was 1.2 mm per week; mean FKL was 37.7 ± 2.9 mm. The mean right and left FKL was 37.5 ± 3.6 mm and 37.9 ± 3.1 mm, respectively. Correlation between GA and FKL was positive (r = 0.9870; p &lt; 0.0001); FKL was more precise than the biparietal diameter and abdominal circumference as GA estimator (standard error of estimation = ±6.6 days). Conclusion: Sonographically measured FKL was precise and useful as an independent GA estimator in the third trimester of pregnancy in a population of Yoruba women in Lagos Southwest Nigeria.

\u2018No Sweet in Sex\u2019: Perceptions of Condom Usefulness among Elderly Yoruba People in Ibadan Nigeria

Emerging evidence has shown a gradual increase in sexually transmitted infections among elderly. This study explores the views of elderly Yoruba men and women (60+) on condoms use and its suitability against sexual infections. The research design was a sequential exploratory mixed method that consisted of vignettes based focus group discussion and a structured questionnaire. Twelve vignettes based Focus Group Discussion and a survey of 252 elderly Yoruba people (aged 60+) were carried out. The findings revealed limited awareness and experience with condoms. Few of the male (20.4%) and 2.8% of the female respondents felt condom use can prevent sexually transmitted infections. A marginally proportion of the females (29.2%) than the males (25.0%) perceived condom as more useful for younger people. Condom use as a preventive measure against sexual infections varies by gender and marital status (p = .000). Gender and marital status also had an influence on whether condom use could reduce sexual pleasures (p = 0.000). These findings offer strong support of the sexual pleasure hypothesis which is often invoked to explain attitude toward condom use in a variety of social and cultural contexts. Social marketing of condoms is urgently required to address misconceptions around condom use and encourage uptake among sexually active elderly people.

Women's Use of Indigenous Knowledge for Environmental Security and Sustainable Development in Southwest Nigeria

Indigenous women are important part of a community’s social capital. This study examined women’s use of Indigenous knowledge (IK) for environmental security and sustainable development in southwest Nigeria. Qualitative data was collected using in-depth interviews conducted among 80 purposively selected rural Yoruba women. The data were analysed using descriptive tools such as frequencies, percentages, and content analysis. The findings reveal an extensive wealth of IK used in agriculture, food processing and preservation, family health care, and child care. The findings also suggest that paying attention to IK will help to incorporate culture as part of rural development and sustainable development in Nigeria, leading to more successful outcomes using place-based knowledge. Indigenous women can, and should, contribute to the design and implementation of sustainable development initiatives because of their extensive IK.

FROM KITCHEN TO CORRIDOR OF POWER: YORUBA WOMEN BREAKING THROUGH PATRIARCHAL POLITICS IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Since the 1990s, a number of socio-cultural agencies have played a significant role in the rise of Yoruba women in civil politics. Amongst these are the increasing value of monogamy and women’s greater access to Western education; the culture of first ladies in government; and female socio-economic empowerment through paid labour. Despite their increasing participation, women are still marginalised in elective politics. Using the ethnographic methods of key informant interviews, observation and focus group discussions and a theoretical analysis of patriarchy, this article examines gender relations in Yoruba politics and in the nationalist movement in south-western Nigeria. The rise of Yoruba women in politics in south-western Nigeria is discussed, along with the factors influencing women’s participation in civil politics. The study concludes that patriarchal politics still exists in the Yoruba political system. Factors inhibiting the total collapse of patriarchal politics in south-western Nigeria include the nature of Yoruba politics; women being pitted against women in politics; gender stereotypes and household labour. Thus, to make Yoruba politics friendlier to all, it would be desirable to create more political openings for women.

Factors Affecting Women's Autonomous Decision Making In Research Participation Amongst Yoruba Women Of Western Nigeria.

Research is a global enterprise requiring participation of both genders for generalizable knowledge; advancement of science and evidence based medical treatment. Participation of women in research is necessary to reduce the current bias that most empirical evidence is obtained from studies with men to inform health care and related policy interventions. Various factors are assumed to limit autonomy amongst the Yoruba women of western Nigeria. This paper seeks to explore the experience and understanding of autonomy by the Yoruba women in relation to research participation. Focus is on factors that affect women's autonomous decision making in research participation. An exploratory qualitative approach comprising four focus group discussions, 42 in-depth interviews and 14 key informant interviews was used. The study permits a significant amount of triangulation, as opinions of husbands and religious leaders are also explored. Interviews and discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was employed for data analysis. Findings show that concepts of autonomy varied amongst the Yoruba women. Patriarchy, religion and culture are conceived to have negative impact on the autonomy of women in respect to research participation. Among the important findings are: 1) male dominance is strongly emphasized by religious leaders who should teach equality, 2) while men feel that by making decisions for women, they are protecting them, the women on the other hand see this protection as a way of limiting their autonomy. We recommend further studies to develop culturally appropriate and workable recruitment methods to increase women's participation in research.

Rural women’s farmers access to productive resources: the moderating effect of culture among Nupe and Yoruba in Nigeria

This paper analyzes ownership and control of productive resources by gender as determined by culture. This is premised on the fact that past researchers have isolated gender and productive resources on one hand and gender and culture on the other. In this paper, the novelty is the exploration of the interplay among culture, gender and productive resources. Using a descriptive quantitative research design, a simple random sampling was used to select 100 households from a sampling frame of 200 households generated through house listing in three villages from Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire covering ownership, and decision making on selected productive resources and analyzed using Frequency counts, percentages and Chi-square test statistics based on the fact that the variables are categorical. Gender and ownership as well as decision making were cross-tabulated and then layered with culture as a third variable. The results were disaggregated along Nupe and Yoruba culture as well as along gender lines for the selected productive resources covered in this paper. Men predominate in ownership of productive resources among Yoruba than Nupe culture. Women from Nupe culture had higher distribution of ownership in the productive resources than men particularly land, small livestock and non-mechanized farm equipment. The results further show higher proportion of ownership of productive resources among men in Yoruba culture. Women in Nupe culture had greater proportion of ownership of productive resources than Yoruba women. Males make decision to sell all productive resources except small livestock and also make decision in almost all the farming activities listed except when and who will take crop to the market in both Nupe and Yoruba cultures. Culture has a stronger influence on women’s access and control of productive resources than the mere biological differentiation of gender into male and female. There is a strong cultural influence among Nupe and Yoruba women as a result of the interplay of gender, ownership and decision making and culture on selected productive resources.

Bilateral breast cancer among three Yoruba women in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in Nigeria. Bilateral breast cancer can occur synchronously or metachronously. We report three different cases of bilateral breast cancer in three female patients managed by the Ibadan Multidisciplinary Breast Tumour Board, domiciled at the University College Hospital (UCH), over a 3-year period. Two of these patients had synchronous bilateral breast cancer and developed cancer in the second breast during the course of management. These case reports may therefore stimulate further research on the clinicopathological features and the progression of bilateral breast cancer among females, especially in our environment. Our patients were premenopausal and the immunochemistry of the tumours showed a triple-negative immunophenotype. The other features of presentation, investigation, diagnosis and follow-up care are the highlights of this presentation.

Domestic and Marital Violence Among Three Ethnic Groups in Nigeria.

There is evidence that between half and two thirds of Nigerian women have experienced domestic violence, and that this is higher in some ethnic groups than others. Yet, studies that examine the ethnic dimensions of domestic and marital violence are conspicuously missing in the literature. We fill this void using data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Results indicate significant ethnic differences with Igbo women more likely to have experienced sexual and emotional violence compared with Yoruba women. Hausa women were however significantly less likely to experience physical and sexual violence but not emotional violence, compared with Yoruba women. Women with domineering husbands were significantly more likely to experience physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Similarly, those who thought wife-beating was justified were more likely to experience all three types of violence. The independent effects of ethnicity on domestic violence suggests that specific interventions may be needed for women belonging to different ethnic groups if the problem of domestic violence is to be dealt with effectively in Nigeria.

Patriarchy and Property Rights among Yoruba Women in Nigeria

ABSTRACTIn most patriarchal societies, women's property rights are often achieved vicariously, usually through their husbands. By contrast, among the Yoruba of Nigeria, women have some levels of autonomy and independence such that they can accumulate property to which their husbands have no claim, yet they customarily do not have any inheritance right to their husbands’ property. This study examines how this gender-equitable property rights regime affects gender relations at the household and societal levels through in-depth interviews conducted in 2012 with fifty-six purposively selected women property owners who lived in urban Ibadan, Nigeria. Findings include that though economic power has improved the status of the women and contributes to development of their communities, it has not yet translated into equity in decision making. More than economic power is required to attain equality. The capability of defining goals and acting upon them is also critical.

On the Demonization and Discrimination of Akan and Yoruba Women in Ghanaian and Nigerian Video Movies

This article focuses on the religious information inside Ghanaian and Nigerian video movies regarding Akan and Yoruba women. More specifically, it focuses on the indigenous religious, Christian, and Islamic messagesinside these movies in relation to women. The article demonstrates that Akan and Yoruba filmmakers, who dominate the Ghanaian and Nigerian video movie industries, are part of networks of religious institutions, predominantly Pentecostal-Charismatic Christian and modest Islamic ones. These organizations sponsor filmmakers to spread religious messages that promote hierarchical gender relations and the suppression of equal rights for women, e.g., economic independence. By providing an overview of Akan and Yoruba belief systems, in respect of indigenous, Christian, and Islamic gender-related positional concepts and ideological communication on what is appropriate behavior for women, the author will show and support the hypothesis that these movies contribute to women’s demonization and (economic) discrimination.

Tribal Perspectives on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and HIV and AIDS Risks among Married Women in Nigeria

This paper analyzed risk of contracting HIV that is associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) due to the involvement of traditional circumcisers. The demographic and health survey for 2008 were used. The data were analyzed with Ordered Probit regression. The results indicated that majority of the circumcised women (89.18 percent) would not want their daughters to be circumcised. A Yoruba woman was 25.67 points more likely to be at high HIV risk from FGM than women from other tribes. Those that indicated cleanliness, social acceptance, better marriage prospects, sexual pleasure and religious approval as reasons for female circumcision were 8.85 percent, 3.53 percent, 7.51 percent, 23.45 percent and 6.68 percent points more likely to be at high HIV risk from FGM than other women. Those women that were resident in North-Central, North-East and North-West were 6.53 percent points, 15.06 percent points and 7.98 percent points respectively less likely to be at high HIV risk from female circumcision than those from South South zone, while those from South-East and South-West were 16.56 percent points and 8.51 percent points respectively more. There is need for efforts to provide proper education to dissuade traditional teachings on the benefits of FGM.

On the Demonization and Discrimination of Akan and Yoruba Women in Ghanaian and Nigerian Video Movies

This article focuses on the religious information inside Ghanaian and Nigerian video movies regarding Akan and Yoruba women. More specifically, it focuses on the indigenous religious, Christian, and Islamic messages inside these movies in relation to women. The article demonstrates that Akan and Yoruba filmmakers, who dominate the Ghanaian and Nigerian video movie industries, are part of networks of religious institutions, predominantly Pentecostal-Charismatic Christian and modest Islamic ones. These organizations sponsor filmmakers to spread religious messages that promote hierarchical gender relations and the suppression of equal rights for women, e.g., economic independence. By providing an overview of Akan and Yoruba belief systems, in respect of indigenous, Christian, and Islamic gender-related positional concepts and ideological communication on what is appropriate behavior for women, the author will show and support the hypothesis that these movies contribute to women’s demonization and (economic) discrimination.