As men increased their labour force, wealth and prestige through the a — Ifi Amadiume

"In the traditional society, a flexible gender system meant that male roles were open to certain categories of women through such practices as nhaye, male daughters, igba ohu, female husbands. These institutions placed women in a more favourable position for the acquisition of wealth and formal political power and authority. Under colonialism, these indigenous institutions – condemned by the Church as pagan and anti-Christian – were abandoned or reinterpreted to the detriment of women."

"… a flexible gender system … meant … certain women could occupy roles and positions usually monopolized by men, and thereby exercise considerable power and authority over both men and women."

"“Since women were basically seen as producers, the principals of control and protection applied to them throughout their productive period, whether as daughters, wives, or mothers. It is said when a woman outgrows the question, whose daughter is she? people then ask, whose wife is she? Only as matrons were women no longer valued in their sexual or reproductive capacity; matrons were, therefore, beyond control."

"The men were no longer known by their own names, but by reference to their role as husband."

"She is said to have had about 24 wives… the qualities attributed to her were hard work and perseverance. She was … a clever woman, who knew how to utilize her money."

"It was with pride that Nwokocha Agbadi returned the twenty bags of cowries to his former son-in-law and he even added a live goat as a token of insult."