ABSTRACT

The categorization of certain elderly and impoverished women in Enugwu-ukwu community, within the Igbo cultural context in Nigeria, as “amosu” (witches) represents a form of gender-based violence, manifesting an implicit reinforcement of asymmetry in social and gender dynamics. This labelling not only dehumanizes these women, but also disrupts social harmony, fostering conflicts within the community. Grounded in Catherine Acholonu’s ʽmotherismʼ theory, this ethnographic study interrogates the intricate relationship between womenʼs longevity, poverty, and accusations of witchcraft in Enugwu-ukwu. Using observations, in-depth, unstructured interviews, focus group discussions, and existing publications that we have analyzed through the narrative analysis method, the research explores how factors such as religion, poverty, gender injustice, ignorance, and physical aging blemishes foster the accusation of elderly women as witches in Enugwu-ukwu community. It also scrutinizes the active involvement of women in accusing and oppressing their fellow women who are elderly, questioning the approach of indigenous feminist theories concerning witchcraft-related violence against women. The study advocates for a novel indigenous feminist theory that comprehensively addresses the unique challenges faced by Igbo women. It emphasizes the interconnectedness between Igbo realities and ongoing gender injustices in a contemporary Igbo community. Furthermore, it calls for gender justice, respect for women, particularly in the context of motherhood, and social responsibilities towards aged women, in order to foster social cohesion in Enugwu-ukwu. This research significantly contributes to the enrichment of feminism (womanism) in Africa and specifically within the Igbo cultural context.

Keywords: gender-based violence, witchcraft accusations, indigenous feminist theory, Igbo culture, motherism.

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