In many pre-colonial West African societies, such as the Igbo, political and social organization was structured around a 'dual-sex' system. Rather than having women's participation subsumed under male authority, both men and women had their own autonomous institutions, leaders, and assemblies. For instance, the *Omu*, often translated as the 'Queen,' was not merely a king's consort but a distinct political authority who ruled over the marketplace, resolved disputes among women, and performed vital spiritual rites for the community's welfare.
Source: Adapted from Kamene Okonjo, 'The Dual-Sex Political System in Transition,' 1976.
Based on the passage, which of the following statements best describes the nature of gender roles and political authority in pre-colonial Igbo society?
- Women exercised autonomous political and economic authority through parallel institutions rather than having their power subordinated to men.Answer
- BFamily and political structures across the African continent were uniformly organized under a single patriarchal model that excluded women from public trade.
- CPre-colonial African societies lacked formal political structures, relying instead on informal spiritual consensus to resolve all community disputes.
- DThe power of female leaders like the Omu was limited to symbolic ritual roles, as male chiefs retained total control over markets and judicial decisions.