The simple reason I’m doing this play is that, unlike most heroes, she is not known despite the huge sacrifice she made to free us as a people
We hear of Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, we hear of Queen Amina of Zaria, we hear of Margaret Ekpo, even Princess Inikpi and Emotan and Idia
But when it comes to her, they will say – Aba Women’s Riot, burying her huge sacrifice
She was the one who stormed the colonial office in Ikot Abasi to protest the inhuman levies the Colonial Masters placed on the market women
While there, a huge argument ensued between her and the officer, and in a bout of rage, she grabbed the officer’s gun and broke it into two on her knees
She got shot point-blank in the chest, and she died instantly
A lot of other women were shot that day, and a lot more jumped into the Imo River to their deaths
This led to massive riots.
Now, why do they call it Aba Women’s Riots?
Aba was then the Divisional Headquaters and the protest got there and also turned into riots; hence the moniker Aba Women’s Riots
The riots spread, with iconic figures like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti joining in
The riots went as far as Kenya and England
Today, a museum has been built in Ikot Abasi in her memory, and a statue has also been erected at the spot where she was killed, very close to where Lord Lugard used to live – his own house is also still standing.
Did you, however, know that Dr Udoma Udo Udoma, former Senator and Minister of Budget, and my friend Eno are grandchildren of this courageous woman, and they have both seen this play before?
This time around, multi-talented Prof. Azorbo of the University of Uyo is writing and directing, and it promises to be maddddd
But wait- there is a small argument
Some have said she was bare-chested in that fight; others have said no
But the statue depicts her bare-chested
Prof. Azorbo wants to cover her chest, and I’m saying no; that history must not be doctored
The argument is loud; what do you think?
Should she be covered, or should she not be covered
I’m. Waiting
Last modified: October 5, 2026
