Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The Ijesha society is located on the western flank of the present-day southwestern region of Nigeria, largely inhabited by members of the Yoruba ethnic group. The people are believed to have migrated there around the tenth century from an unspecified location in the Middle East. Ijeshaland is spread across six Local Government Areas of Nigeria – Ilesha West, Ilesha East, Atakunmosa West, Atakunmosa East, Oriade, and Obokun. The city of Ilesha is the capital of the region. The majority of the population have always been farmers, traders (sojourners), and hunters. Modernity and colonialism have significantly influenced the society, transforming social relations in the economic sphere and creating new occupational affiliations as people assume modern vocations and, in many cases, are forced by capitalist society to modernize traditional occupations. As in most societies, and especially in Africa, patriarchy was prevalent within the Ijesha sub-ethnic group. Women on the farms could only plant for their husbands to reap and goods taken to market could only be sold by women on behalf of their husbands. Within the traditional family unit, mothers and daughters could not gain power and were usually consigned to childcare and farming. Nevertheless, women have had an important influence in raising and educating children, and often in the financial aspects of family life, providing a means ... log in or subscribe to read full text