THE ECONOMIC ROLE OF WOMEN IN PRE-COLONIAL OR TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETIES

Nasiru Joseph Gimba

Department of History

University of Ibadan, Ibadan

Email: josephnasiru@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Women in pre-colonial African setting, as it is today suffered discriminations. This will continue into the future if no active grand strategies to expunge the misconception that women are weaker sex. In the discussion of strategic issues, women should be considered relevant like men in the societies. To find out about gender discrimination today, it is therefore, important to trace the root for a better understanding of the present. This is why, to discuss the genesis of gender discrimination from the angle of pre-colonial African setting, the role of women in economic development at that period and how they tried to assert their freedom are significant factors in gender school of thought. These will form the bases of my discussion.

Keywords: Women, economy, development traditional Africa, discrimination, freedom, trade, Politics, Norms, and craft.