Traditional chiefdom and gender : Notable Bariba Women Calling From Nikki

Bariba women want more responsibility in traditional chiefdoms. This is what emerges from a meeting of women reunited in Nikki with Mariam Chabi Talata Zimé Yérima, first vice-president of the National Assembly last weekend.

Damien TOLOMISSI

They came from Kika, Sandilo, Kouandé, Djougou, Kpantrossi, Keru, Banikoara. Around Nikki's Empress, these notables from the Bariba kingdoms sent their message to the local but also national political authorities represented by Mariam Chabi Talata Zimé Yérima, first vice-president of the National Assembly. The message is twofold. First of all, gratitude to Patrice Talon and his government as well as the national assembly for the step taken towards the recognition of traditional chiefdoms in the Republic of Benin. The call also aims to attract the attention of the Beninese executive and all stakeholders involved in taking into account the notion of gender in this recognition of traditional chiefdoms..

It was during a discussion session on the third day of the new year of the peoples of Baru Tem that the empress of the Nikki empire and the notables of the different Bariba kingdoms reflected on the place given to the gente female within the decision-making bodies of the royalty of this ethnic entity.

 This meeting is part of the government initiative to promote traditional chieftaincy enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Benin.. At the start of their work, the women first welcomed the initiative and showed their gratitude to the authorities.

The various communications which punctuated this meeting showed that within the Baatonu nobility, women have always played a leading role. “The existence of institutions such as queen mothers whose functions transcended the sphere of representation is undoubtedly an illustration of this”, they recalled, adding that “if it is true that colonization had a profound impact on traditional socio-political structures, the fact remains that these institutions bear witness to the preponderant role once played by women, can today still serve as levers for the grassroots promotion of women”.

According to the explanation of the function of women in the Bariba kingdoms, the empress plays a leading role in the same way as the emperor. “In the organization of the Baru Tem Empire, with regard to the influence of Yon Kogui on the functioning of institutions as well as its attributions and functions, the title of “queen mother” cannot be equivalent to the concept of “Yon Kogui”. Being the cousin of another line of the Emperor, having the same attributes and having the same prerogatives, Yon Kogui has the rank of empress. The question of relations between Yon Kogui and the Emperor does not arise in terms of hierarchy. The two institutions were designed to be complementary. The emperor is indisputably the first authority of the kingdom but his status does not give him command power over Gnon Kogui which, from a statutory point of view is not a subordinate.›› they explained. However, there are still responsibilities to be conquered by women. As well, have the latter launched a call for gender to be taken into account in other spheres of decision-making bodies?.

Mariam Chabi Talata Zimé Yérima, a wise representative  The first vice-president of the National Assembly recognized the legitimacy of Nikki's call. In response to the plea, she recalled the history of the influence of women in other kingdoms in Africa. She is committed to making this call audible to her peers because she participated in the writing of this provision of the constitution which takes into account traditional chieftaincy. “It is on the strength of this that having played my role as elected representative of the people in the vote of the law cited above and produced a documentary on the Yon Kogui, I had to participate in this meeting”, she concluded.