Analysis Of The Circle Of Irons In West Africa

Many historians have argued that colonial rule in West Africa would not have been successful if the colonial rulers had not obtained the services of indigenous elites. How does the article, “The Circle of Irons..” help us to support or refute that assertion? We encourage critical assessment beyond the normative, “I agree..”

The argument that the services of indigenous elites were necessary for successful colonial rule in West Africa is supported by “The Circle of Irons” because the article discusses the role that these elites played in everyday life. According to the Osborne, much of everyday colonial life was controlled by the these “employees”. While this may have created some problems within the colonial society, the rule of the colonialists, the French in particular,

This is because, while some believed African women were living in a patriarchal societies, however, there is evidence that this was not quite the case. Perham states that women were able to sell various items in markets in Okloko. However, when women were told they were to be taxed some responded with, “We depend on our husbands…how shall we get money to pay the tax?” (Perham 1). This shows that, while women were able to sell products in markets, they were still unable to live without the support of their husbands. After colonial rule took over, however, women’s roles and their relationship to men began to change. According to the article, the women of Aba were unhappy about the new tax that would be placed on them. In response, many women grouped together to stage protests to the law. These women were able to voice their opinions in a public and controversial fashion. Therefore, after colonial rule took over, the role of women expanded in Aba, as well as throughout colonial Africa. Women gained the ability to take a stance politically, which is not a characteristic of a “patriarchal