Exploring the Oga political institution in Oko, Western Igboland, Nigeria.

This paper examines the Oga institution as a parallel political system to the male political power among the Oko people. The study outlines the fluidity of gender roles of the Oga who despite being a woman enjoyed all the political rights and privileges of a king. The Oga assumed male roles such as marrying a wife and raising a family. Against this background, this study seeks to provide answers to several questions including the origin of the Oga institution in Oko and why it was created as well as its functions in society. It also explores the power relationships between the Oga institution and other women's organisations such as the Umuada (daughters of the lineage) and Onowu Nwanyi or Isi-Ada, (the oldest woman) the Ndi Iyemedi (married women/wives group) and spiritual forces, rituals, and deities. Data were drawn from oral sources and a close reading of extant literature was undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]