A SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATION OF AMOSU PHENOMENON AND THE VICTIMHOOD OF ELDERLY AND POOR WOMEN IN ENUGWU-UKWU, SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

The categorization of certain elderly and impoverished women in Enugwu-ukwu, within the Igbo cultural context in Nigeria, as "amosu" (witches) represents a form of gender-based violence, manifesting an implicit reinforcement of asymmetry in social and gender dynamics. This labelling not only dehumanizes these women but also disrupts social harmony, fostering conflicts within the community. Grounded in Catherine Acholonu’s 'motherism,' this ethnographic study interrogates the intricate relationship between women's longevity, poverty, and accusations of witchcraft in Enugwu-ukwu. Utilizing observations, in-depth unstructured interviews, focus group discussions, and existing publications, analyzed through the narrative analysis method, the research explores the complicity of factors such as religion, poverty, gender injustice, ignorance, and physical aging blemishes in perpetuating the victimhood of these women. It also scrutinizes the active involvement of women in accusing and oppressing their elderly counterparts, questioning the approach of indigenous feminist theories concerning witchcraft-related violence against women. The study advocates for a novel indigenous feminist theory that comprehensively addresses the unique challenges faced by Igbo women. It emphasizes the interconnectedness between African (Igbo) realities and ongoing gender injustices in a contemporary Igbo community. Furthermore, it calls for gender justice, respect for women, particularly in the context of motherhood, and social responsibilities towards aged women to foster social cohesion in Enugwu-ukwu. This research significantly contributes to the enrichment of feminism (womanism) in Africa and specifically within the Igbo cultural context.

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