The hausa – mbororo women’s household and commercial activities in north west Cameroon: a historical investigation

The Hausa and Mbororo women found in the North West Region of Cameroon migrated from Northern Nigeria alongside their male counterparts in the 18th and 19th centuries. By the early 20th century, they had arrived and settled in the North West Region. While the Hausa and Mbororo men were busy trading and grazing their animals, the women were more engaged with their household economy. Two types of families existed among the Hausa and Mbororo Communities, namely the nuclear and extended families. Even though the men dominated those families, nonetheless, the role of the women in the well being of the family cannot be under estimated. The organisational ability of the Hausa and Mbororo women in their household and commercial activities were enormous. The major objective of this paper is to show that even though the Hausa and Mbororo women in the North West were relegated to the background, they nonetheless played very important role as far as household and commercial activities were concerned. Thanks to their engagement in petty trading activities, they contributed enormously in the well being of their family and society. It is about time for the Hausa and Mbororo men to realise that the betterment and up-bringing of their families cannot be left on their hands alone. Full emancipation should be granted to their wives so as to help them not just run the family, but also the society as a whole.