umu ada: THE COUNCIL

Umu Ada: The Enduring Matriarchs of Igboland

The Igbo people, one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, form the largest population in the south-eastern region of the country. The survival of any culture rests upon its people’s ability to learn, preserve and pass it on to succeeding generations. Through this body of work, I seek to offer viewers a deeper understanding of who we are as a people, while honouring the richness of our heritage and the story of Nigeria as a whole.

The role of women within Igbo society has long been the subject of debate, particularly in relation to power. Often, female authority is assessed through the lens of physicality or temporality, whether by age or appearance. Yet, the Igbo woman has always stood as more than the sum of these parts. Women profoundly inspire my artistic practice and are positioned at its very core. To me, women are the vertebrae of society. I want every viewer, regardless of gender, to see the women in my work and recognise something of themselves: a story, a name, a memory, a message or even a prayer.

One of my recent exhibitions, held at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans, was titled Nwa Agbo: Entering Adolescence. This exhibition explored rites of passage, selfhood and tradition. I wish to continue in this vein, drawing on cultural awareness and inherited legacies, with particular emphasis on the powerful and enduring institution of the Umu Ada.

The ideology of the Umu Ada originated in the precolonial era, a time when women were revered and deeply involved in collective decision-making on political, legal and social matters. Long before colonial intervention, and indeed throughout and beyond the colonial period, women were a vital force in the structure of Igbo society. Their influence found formal expression through the institution of the Umu Ada.

Umu Ada refers to the native daughters of a common male ancestor, often translated as “daughters of the soil”. It is a collective term formed from two Igbo words: Umu, meaning “many” or “children”, and Ada, meaning “first daughter” or simply “daughter”. In broader usage, every Igbo woman is called Ada, a name that carries status and recognition even within her marital home. Umu Ada, therefore, connotes a sisterhood of daughters connected by lineage and bound by duty.

Over generations, Igbo women have formed numerous associations, such as the Christian Mothers and the Association of Market Women, to advocate for female interests. However, the Umu Ada stands apart. It is not merely a social or religious group, but a deeply rooted cultural institution whose influence extends across familial, spiritual and communal domains.

The Umu Ada remains one of the most organised and peace-driven institutions in Igboland. As individuals and as a collective, they participate actively in the economic and cultural life of the community. They are custodians of the village square and sacred spaces, charged with safeguarding tradition and mediating conflict. Open to all daughters of Igbo land, the group is united by a singular mission: the preservation of peace and the progress of families.

Such is the moral authority of the Umu Ada that they are often regarded as the first point of appeal in moments of crisis or dispute. Only after their intervention has been sought might one proceed to the traditional ruling council. Their role in reconciliation and communal harmony remains indispensable.

In celebrating the Umu Ada, we acknowledge the strength of the Igbo woman and reaffirm the truth that tradition, when anchored in dignity and shared purpose, does not diminish women. It empowers them.