Women bead traders in precolonial Lagos

Women bead traders in precolonial Lagos were women who dominated the distribution and retail trade of beads, known in Yoruba as ileke, in Lagos before British colonization in 1861. Beads served as adornment, symbols of royalty and status, and stores of wealth.^[1]

Types of beads traded

Yoruba beads are grouped according to quality. Coral beads, known as iyun, are regarded as the most valuable. A Yoruba axiom states that "Iyun is the father of all beads".^[1] Iyun is deposited at the basement of rivers prior to extraction, in a process described as comparable to gold mining, and is polished to reveal wine and red colours.^[1] The dearth of persons interested in Iyun extraction has affected its availability in markets.^[1]

Significance of beads

Every Yoruba son and daughter knows that apart from the crown and horsetail, beads are another important element of traditional rulers. It is a mark that one occupies higher traditional position and separates the king from his subjects.^[1] Apart from the king, princes and princesses also have right to wear beads, especially on their wrists for identification.^[1] Traditional and honorary chieftaincy title holders also wear beads as a sign of status.^[1]

Women as custodians of wealth

In precolonial Lagos, beads served as a store of wealth and were used as dowry and inheritance. Women who controlled large quantities of iyun and other luxury beads were considered wealthy, as these beads retained high value and were passed down within families.

Organization: Egbe Onileke

Bead traders in Lagos were organized into a guild known as Egbe Onileke (association of bead sellers). The guild was headed by the Iya Egbe (Lady President) who regulated prices, settled disputes among members, and represented the bead sellers in negotiations with the Oba of Lagos and later the colonial authorities. The guild system ensured women maintained control over the supply and pricing of luxury beads.

Notable bead trader

Wusamotu Shelleh was a prominent luxury bead seller in Lagos and served as head of the bead sellers guild. She was listed among the lesser-known spokeswomen for the market guilds during the Lagos market women's protests of 1931-32, identified as head, bead sellers at Ereko Market.^[2] She maintained separate accounts and expanded her trade from her Balogun Street shop, operating as a luxury bead seller dealing in valuable beads such as iyun (coral beads).^[1] She operated as a luxury bead seller dealing in valuable beads such as iyun (coral beads), which were markers of wealth and royalty. Her leadership of Egbe Onileke shows the continued importance of women bead traders as economic and political actors in Lagos markets from the precolonial period into the colonial era.

References

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