As this year’s “August Meeting” draws near, a lot of anticipations and preparations are made in order to make it a fruitful one.  Women from all over the world, especially the married Igbo women flock back home for this annual meeting.

It is during this meeting that decisions are made for the betterment of the Igbo women and the community at large.  This very meeting of theirs is taken very seriously, in the sense that anyone who fails to attend it pays a fine (especially those who have been mandated).

The concept of the meetings evolved from the annual mass return.  The mass return were for every citizen – men, women, youth and children.  The women conceived the idea of August meeting as a platform to make their contributions to the development of their communities.  Before long, the concept had spread and it had become a rallying point for women in service of their communities.

The women used their organizational skills to raise money, which was used effectively for the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, markets and civic centres.

The aims and objectives include (1) Settlement of disputes among fellow women and the community; (2) Infidelity issues involving offending wives; (3) Conflicts involving physical fighting between parties; (4) Assault or physical attacks of a wife on her mother-in-law and other issues under these categories which may fall under their jurisdiction and (5) Contributing to the development of the community in terms of building of schools, hospitals, town halls etc.

This history of “August Meeting” among Igbo women shows that it has not always been smooth story to tell about their conduct, activities and achievements.  Nor has its convocation been without the normal challenges and difficulties that attend such gatherings in recent times.

The first criticism this women’s annual reunion faced, and still faces is that it is a mere “fashion show” for women of class to showcase their husbands’ affluence or indeed theirs.

Without a doubt, the annual gathering at ‘that time’ shifted from being an issue oriented one and a conscious effort at community building, to one in which married Igbo women from all over the world flocked back home to what could best be termed a “big jamboree”.

The abroad women carried themselves with an air, stamping their superiority to the home-based women and it was a thing of pride for every home-based granny to have an abroad daughter-in-law who she showed off at the August meeting.  Women who did not turn in their best or whose best was not good enough i.e. did not meet the prevailing standard, were treated as second class and their opinion in (the) meeting was more often than not disregarded.

In consequence, instead of these women coming back from the meetings better equipped to face their roles as mothers and wives, most of them have been found to be more vain,  emptier and materialistic with no evidence of improvement; developments that have made some men to literarily ‘ban’ their wives from attending any such meeting.

There is also a seeming boycott of the “August Meeting” by Pentecostal church members, who see it as not conforming with their core beliefs and practices as “born again Christians”.  This has actually led to some divisions and disaffections in some Igbo communities.

As we draw close to the month of August; a month that is unique to all Igbo women as regards “August Meeting”.  I hereby use this medium to encourage you not to use your positions to cause disaffection in your various communities.  I also urge you to desist from picking quarrels (especially where there is none) with the traditional rulers, town union executives, even among yourselves.  I encourage you to make sure that you actually use the opportunity offered by “August Meeting” to bring peace, unity and development of your various communities and not to use the occasion to pursue matters that are inimical to the purpose and principle of the meeting.  Most importantly, use this year’s “August Meeting” to correct the bad impression and anomalies which the world have known you for.

This will go a long way in restoring the dignity of womanhood and give women a pride of place in the scheme of things.

Wishing all the mothers (Igbo married women in particular), a happy and well spent August Meeting this year.

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