reading: traditional womens' institutions in igbo society: implications for the igbo female writer by Theodora Akachi Ezeigbo
fun facts: igbo culture has always been patriarchal, but women had rights and methods for social mobility/gaining power, like
"male daughters" - a man with no sons could allow his daughter (I think the eldest) to take the position of eldest son socially, meaning that she took over the duties of a son like inheriting and tending the property (i.e. land). Quote: "Women also exercised power through the institution of Nluikwa, 'remaining at home', which allwoed a patrilineage daighter from a lineage without male issues to 'remaine at home' to produce children (males, it was hoped) who would inherit her father's property, especially land. Such a daugher had power (though limited) in the linearge to control and proside over her father's propert until her son/sons grew up to take full control. These women are often referred to as 'male daughters' in anthropological studies.' (I personally take issue w this term given the whiteness and christianity and europeanness of the anthropologists in question)
"woman marriage" - "whereby a woman with or without children of her own could 'marry' another woman who then owed her allegiance, and any children the 'wife' might have belonged to the 'female husband'. the institution of 'woman marriage' was one of the ways women could rise in social prestige in the community. And invariably it was only wealthy women with strong personality and influence that could exercise this power. Women in this position were mostly married." (I also take issue with some of this framing because afaik this was just as legally binding as a typical het marriage, so I don't understand the point of the quotes)
in some areas, they had "Iko mbara" - whereby a husband would allow a friend of acquaintance to sleep with his wife regularly on one night of the eight-day week. he'd have to pay with two jars of wine, one leg of meat, a chicken, and some cash. he was also expected to help around with the farm work when asked. typical in cases of elderly men married to young women or men with lots of wives, at which point it was impossible to actually meet all of their needs. objectifying aspects of concubinage/barter were mitigated by the fact that the woman chose which man she wanted to sleep with. also apparently it was normally her idea. The woman also expected that man to get her new clothes, clear the bush, educate her children, and raise trading capital. (I think if she had that man's children, they'd legally be her common husbands and thus she would still have access to inheritancy rights upon his death)