In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, a remarkable woman named Chief Alimotu Pelewura was born in 1865. She rose from humble beginnings as a fish trader to become a powerful leader, advocate, and political ally, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s history.
Pelewura’s journey began in a large polygynous family, where she was the elder of two children born to her biological mother, a fish trader. She followed in her mother’s footsteps, becoming a skilled fish trader and eventually, a prominent market women leader. Her leadership and trading prowess earned her a chieftaincy title from Oba Eshugbayi Eleko in 1910.
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As the head of the Ereko meat market and president of the Lagos Market Women’s Association (LMWA), Pelewura oversaw a network of eleven markets, each dominated by women who formed associations and guilds based on their wares. Under her leadership, the LMWA became a formidable force, advocating for the rights and interests of market women.
Pelewura’s unwavering dedication to her community led her to confront the colonial government on several occasions. She protested against imposed taxation and price controls, which she believed would harm the livelihoods of women. Her unrelenting stance earned her a reputation as a powerful force to be reckoned with, and she became a concern for the colonial authorities.
In the mid-1930s, Pelewura was arrested and detained for leading a protest against the relocation of the Ereko market. However, her detention only sparked a wave of solidarity among market women, who rallied in her support, ultimately securing her release.
Pelewura’s political influence extended beyond the marketplaces. She was a strong ally of Herbert Macaulay, a prominent Nigerian nationalist, and an executive member of the Nigerian Union of Young Democrats and the Nigerian National Democratic Party. She also joined the Nigerian Women’s Party, founded by Oyinkan Abayomi.
In recognition of her contributions, Pelewura was appointed as the women’s representative on the Oba’s ‘Ilu Council’, an advisory group to the Oba of Lagos. In 1947, she was conferred with the prestigious Erelu title by the Oba of Lagos.
She passed on in 1951, leaving behind a trailblazing path for future generations of market women and political leaders. Her successor, late Chief Abibatu Mogaji, continued her work, ensuring that Pelewura’s impact would be felt for years to come.
