In eastern Nigeria, the rural community of Arnado-Debbo has been exclusively ruled by women for 260 years—an unusual tradition born when male leaders mysteriously died.

Adamawa

In the rural community of Arnado-Debbo in northeastern Nigeria, women have held the highest leadership position for more than 260 years. This tradition began after a series of unexplained deaths among male leaders led the community to appoint a woman, a practice that has continued unbroken since 1760.

To become the community's leader, a woman must be over 50 years old. Residents report that female leadership has strengthened the role of women in local affairs, giving them a significant voice in community matters. Men in the community express support for this tradition, and there is no indication that male leadership will return.

Why this Nigerian community says women make better rulers than men

The warrior dancers of Dengep Arnabudepo honor their queen with a victory dance. While men lead this band, a woman is the highest authority in this rural community in northeastern Nigeria. Surrounded by her subjects, the woman king Onyagaon presides over a dispute over farmland. I lead a peaceful community with no trouble because of my gender. Just like my predecessors, my subjects are loyal. The queen serves at the pleasure of the paramount ruler of Gagne, who also administers many small chiefdoms like hers. Leadership in Dengep was the exclusive preserve of men until, people here say, a strange phenomenon started occurring centuries ago. Any poor person that was appointed by the king would die within a very short period. So it was then decided that they would try a female. And since then, the women have been ruling that area. To ascend the Nyagaon throne, a woman must be above 50 years old. That has been the tradition here since 1760. For more than 260 years, no man has led this community. 17 women have ruled and there is no indication that a man will ever return to power here. But the men here aren't bothered about being ruled by a woman. We enjoy her ruling very, very, very, very seriously without problem. Because the way the community will build without a woman, it will not happen. Two and a half centuries of women leadership has strengthened the position of women in this community. Unlike some of their neighbors, they have a voice in matters that affect not only them, but the entire community. Ahmed Idris, Algezira, Dengep, Anadu Debo, Nigeria.

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