The Evolution of “August Meeting” among the Igbo Women of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The month of August every year witnesses a massive homecoming from different towns and cities across the world of “Igbo women” groups to their matrimonial rural hometowns, where they unite with their rural-based colleagues for what is now popularly known as the “August Meeting.” These “mothers’ congresses,” as they truly are, were originally often geared towards self-help rural community development, but have in recent times delved into conflict management, peace-building and human development in rural societies. But, what is the history of the “August Meeting” initiative among Igbo women? How different is it from the two “traditional” women’s groups among the Igbo? How independent is this assemblage from men’s influences and patronage, especially in a patriarchal society like the Igbos’? This article reconstructs the evolution of the “August Meeting” among women in the Igbo society. It develops a comprehensive view of the agency of women’s participation therein, by focusing on their grassroots initiatives and the crucial roles they play in societal development.