SOCIO-POLITICAL INSTITUTION AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN IKARE-AKOKO UP TO 1970

From time immemorial women have always been at the heart of the development of any community. Women have always played a leading role in development as they control most of the non-monetary economy such as childbearing, domestic labour, and subsistence agriculture, among others. Women in Yorubaland constituted a productive unit of the society. Their role in Yorubaland society seemed to cut across all aspect of life-social, political cultural, economic, etc. Women took active art in social uplifting in the society through the palace and training of children likewise housekeeping, they function in religion and cultural role, they also play a significant role in the politics, complementing the role of their counterpart in the society. Yoruba women since ancient times'have been central to Nigeria society, and their role during that period actually cut across politics, culture, and economy. For instance, in several Yoruba town there were women officials headed by lyalode. They participated in the decision making and settled disputes in their wards and compounds. Thus, women assisted in the maintenance of law and orders, peace and harmony, in traditional Yoruba society. A few women officials even constituted part of the membership of secret societies mainly responsible for executive and judicial functions in several Yoruba settlement, especially among people of ljebu.2 However, despites it being a known fact that women are placed a step behind their male counterparts, they have not shied away from their effort at making commendable contributions to society at large. Through their activities, 1 they have being able to play significant role in the socio-cultural, economie.and political aspect of life in their respective societies, which has yielded positive change and development that has lasted over time. Some women in history have gained a meaningful reputation as a result of their cogent contribution toward their community and which they were always remembered till today because their work speak for them. In this respect, women roles in the society can be safely within the historical context as it seeks to discuss the role they have played in the past and present. For example, In Yorubaland we have Lobun in Ondo township, she was the first king of Ondo town, she settled quarrels among the male chiefs and also officiated in the opening of new market. Efunsetan Aniwura of Ibadan also comes to mind, in the seventh century we have a Berber queen known as Kahuna of the Maghreb's. These entire examples have shown how women have played major roles to shape the society oftheir time.5 Aside the leadership roles exercised by some notable women, women have been organized into various grouping of their societies. Records shows that, these existing organization in all part of the world (African majorly) were activated to defend women's interest and serve as a means via which women contributed to their societies. The women are more than sexual partners to their husband, they performed more than expectation in the societies, and we can say that they were equal to their male counterpart in some Yorubaland.? In Ikare community, just like every other traditional society, women work bothi around the home and outside the home as they played major roles in the socio-political affairs oftheir community. 2 areas. Ikare-Akoko women were usually at the fore front in cultural display. The "Imole" was a social group consisting of only women who were beautifully dressed and were usually to go on parade around the Ikare community before any major festival such as "Egungun". "Arigikaya" and the like. During ceremonies such as naming, burial, marriage, and coronation, women were saddled with different responsibilities ranging from dressing the bride to cooking and caring for loads to the groom's house, women were used to creating awareness for any social function in the Ikare community. During naming ceremonies, the oldest women were usually responsible for bathing the baby and carrying the baby during the ceremony. In marriage ceremonies, older women were used as teachers to teach the wife to be good manners that she should display in her new home. Younger women were usually involved in dancing and display to entertain the guests. For the coronation of kings or title holders, women could serve as praise singers and were usually the custodian of the leaves called "Ewe Iwuye" that was usually put under the caps of the title holders. Women were responsible for entertainment as they displayed different traditional dance skills and cultural songs and were mostly dressed in uniform attire to make such gathering a colourful one.10 Despite the restriction on Ikare-Akoko woman in politics; they have had tremendous achievements in the socio-political sphere of their community