IDEAL INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

Women in traditional Igbo society are a force in political, legal and social issues. This is true of the Umuada Igbo who in the past and till date have remained a social institution of the Igbo society. They have also rendered invaluable services to the Igbo socio-political organization though the trend today is fast changing. This study was set to investigate the changing nature of the roles played by Umuada guild. To achieve this, a survey method was used and the researcher randomly selected and interviewed 50 women from Urualla ranging from 60 years and above and 59 years down to 20years. Cameras and tape recorders were used to collect the information needed and a review of related literature was also done. In the end, the researcher collected, analyzed and interpreted all the necessary information obtained. Findings reveal that women as Umuada constituted a control system on the exercise of power within these levels, the kindred, the village and the entire Urualla community. For instance, they could, by symbolic protest of leaving the village or sitting on the floor, signal that something wrong has been done and should be corrected. The researcher concluded by saying that the development of Urualla community politically, religiously, economically and socially in the present dispensation will depend much on how the Umuada work in harmony with other town unions and other arms of the community. It also suggests that there is still need for the empowerment and upliftment of Umuada in Urualla political organization.

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