Village meetings at Christmas: The women perspective

After European colonization, different tribes in the country become more united than ever before. The largest political unit was the village group who shared a common market, meeting place and common beliefs and cults. These village groups were ruled by a council of elder age grades, lineage heads and influential wealthy men.

For centuries, different group of individuals such as the men folks, the women folks and the youths group who formed into age grades have played (and still do) an important role in village life. Age grades are formed by people born within three to five years from each other, and are a means to create a peer group, foster unity and responsibility, acting mainly as a socio-cultural institution. Communities are segmented in different age grades, and with years passing by, the younger groups ascend the ladder and take over the role of older grades.

As it were, Christmas season is being viewed as the best time for people, especially women meet to discuss major issues affecting the entire village, and the women at the end of the day place the issue on a ballot to be voted upon. And any issue recently enacted by the Village women was to be a Home Rule Community. This is because most people return home for the Christmas celebration and the opportunity is being used to drive home peace and unity of a particular town or village.

However, Mrs. Kate Ekwu a Banker said she was looking forward towards this year’s Christmas meetings because they want to inspire each other, try new things, learn new things, develop and share information with each other. This is a time when friendships and relationships are important.

Mrs. Okwy Emeka hair dresser, said she like the Christmas meeting because it is not only the time to discuss on the development of the community but also the time to chat the way forward for the family. “I so much enjoy as a woman to be in the midst of my co-women to discuss issues that will positively affect our lives. In doing that Christmas is the perfect time set aside for family members, relations to come together to celebrate together, so Christmas is the best time for women meeting. I urge the women leaders across the country to come together to change this meeting from August to Christmas period”.

Whereas Mrs. Joy Okolobia a market woman averred that she has bought several clothes that would enable her to walk gorgeously into the meeting to be able to command respect from her fellow women. She said she has made her hair, would do manicure and pedicure, bought different types of shoe to match, and now waiting for the meeting day to come up.

Also, Mrs. Eucharia Adebayo a Civil Servant said; I am having a serious issue to be discussed at the village meeting during the Christmas and I hope that it will be solved. So I am looking forward to that day when my worries will be removed from me, because I believe that a problem solved inspire adequate peace of mind.

Mrs. Gladys Azukaego a Public Servant opined; you know, I don’t have the time traveling home at ordinary time due to the nature of my job, but at Christmas, I have the time, so I have been preparing to see my fellow women who I had not seen for long because the village meeting affords us opportunity of meeting people you have not seen since the last Christmas period.

Mrs. Lucy Nwanma Market woman, stated; I feel disturbed having series of meetings during the Christmas season, because as a market woman, i use the Christmas celebration to have rest. But now i cannot have rest at all.

Mrs. Josephine Oghene a Tailor said; I prefer attending meetings during the Christmas celebration than in the month of August because August meeting is only for three days, but Christmas meetings last for one week or more and within that time I use it to rest for the year. So I am anxiously looking forward for that day to come, having gathered foodstuffs, clothing and others that will help me during the days of the meeting.