Anidi, Ojel Clara Adaozo (2025) Traditional Leadership Styles of the Igbo African Women: Panacea for the Values Crises in 21st Century Igboland, Nigeria. In: Women Leadership in the 21st Century: An African Perspective. Routledge Taylor & Francis, pp. 1-17. (In Press)
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Abstract
This chapter explores the traditional leadership styles of the Igbo African women, and advocates their recognition and revival for values reorientation in today’s 21st century Igboland, Nigeria. Studies suggest that the traditional Igbo women over the centuries have played major roles in nurturing moral values (shaping character in the children), and maintaining peace and progress in their communities. There is the need therefore to study exactly how these women have been able to achieve these highly valuable leadership roles in their communities. Which traditional leadership institutions and practices have they employed? This study is deemed necessary in today’s 21st century Igboland, Nigeria, and the globe, in the face of deteriorating values-system and the crises arising thereof. The study relied on the ethnography method. It was guided by the ‘Igbo African womanism theory’, adapted from the womanism theory. The findings reveal that the traditional Igbo women’s leadership styles involve the traditional institutions of family/marriage (Ezi-na-uno), and the lineage daughters (Umuada or Ada Ndiomu) association. Through these institutions, the women have engaged in practices such as child home-training (izu nwa), family care-giving (inete ezi-na-uno), and vigils at mourning periods (ura ekwa). The term, ‘Traditional Igbo Womanism Leadership Theory’, is conceptualised here to present these findings. This contributes to the significance of the study. From the findings, the traditional leadership styles of the Igbo African women need to be properly studied and revived for values reorientation in Igboland.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | A General Works > AS Academies and learned societies (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts > Faculty of Law > Faculty of Management and Social Sciences > Faculty of Education |
| Depositing User: | Uchenna Eneogwe |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Aug 2025 23:54 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Aug 2025 23:54 |
| URI: | http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5008 |
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