Humuani Amoke Alaga, popularly known as Mama Humuani Alaga (ca. 1900 – 1993[1]) was a Nigerian activist and indigenous entrepreneur in the textile business. She was also referred to as a Muminaat who encouraged and influenced women to be active citizens.[2] In 1938, she led protesters to demand equal pay and better working condition for women. In 1958, she founded the Isabatudeen Womens Society with 11 other women.[1][3] In 1959, she co-founded the National Council of Women's Societies.[4]
Humuani Alaga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ibadan |
| Died | 29 January 1993 Ibadan |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Parent | Alfa Aliu Adisa Alaga |
| Occupation | Activist Entrepreneur |
| Profession | Activist |
| Nickname | Muminaat |
Early life
editAlaga was born around 1900 in Ibadan into the family of Alfa Aliu Adisa Alaga, a Muslim cleric and trader, and Asimowu Oladoyinbo Ladebo Anigbalawo, a textile and bead trader.[1] With two older sisters and an older brother, Humani was the youngest in the family. She ventured into the sales of textiles and beads at a very young age via her parents. She married at the age of 18.[2]
Career
editAlaga started her business by hawking textiles after her marriage in 1925. She later opened a shop between 1928 and 1929 and became a dealer for other companies. She became the leader of textile dealers in 1934 at Gbagi market. She co-founded the Egbe Ifelodun in 1930. She founded the Isabatudeen society in 1958.[5] In 1958, after being refused entry for her daughter into a Christian school, she founded, with eleven other women, a society which took the name of Isabatudeen Society (IS). At the heart of its program was a project to create a secondary school for girls. She founded Isabatudeen Girls' Grammar School.[6]
Activism
editThe Women Cotton Trade Union protested in 1938 against the Lebanese traders who were acting as middlemen in the textile business and were making huge profits. The protest was led by Alaga as she was against the Lebanese traders operating at some places in Ibadan that was meant for the local traders. This later led to the creation of the National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS) in 1959.[7] In 1953, she led the Ibadan African Textile Association to protest against the relocation of Dugbe market. The protesters went bare-footed and bare-headed to the king's palace and demanded that the location of the market remained unchanged. She also led market women to the Governor's place to protest against the killing of protesters by soldiers in 1978.
She also advocated for equal pay for all during a visit to the State Governor.[citation needed]
Death
editAlaga died on 29 January 1993 in Ibadan.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Panata, Sara (25 September 2015). "Alaga, Humuani Amoke". Le Maitron: Dictionnaire Biographique, Mouvement Ouvrier, Mouvement Social (in English and French). Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Humuani's life is a pride to Muslims — Jadesola Oyewole". Vanguard News. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ Uthman, Ubaydullah a. Y. O. D. E. J. I. "Ibrahim Olatunde Uthman Muslim Women in Nigeria. The Position of Fomwan and Lessions From Islamic Malaysia". Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ "NCWS prioritises better women representation " Features " Tribune Online". Tribune Online. 19 May 2017.
- ^ Oloyede, Ishaq O. (1 July 1987). "The council of Muslim youth organizations of Oyo state in Nigeria: origins and objectives". Institute of Muslim Minority Affairs Journal. 8 (2): 378–386. doi:10.1080/02666958708716045.
- "Humuani's life is a pride to Muslims – Jadesola Oyewole". Vanguard News. 27 February 2014. - ^ "Gbadamosi hails Humuani Alaga". Vanguard News. 13 March 2014.
- ^ Mutiat Titilope Kareem-Ojo (June 2010). "International Trade and Women Merchants atGbagi Textile Market, Ibadan". Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective. 3 (2). Retrieved 3 November 2021.